Lutjanus purpureus (Poey 1866)

Angulo, Arturo, 2021, New records and range extensions to the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, with an updated checklist, Zootaxa 5083 (1), pp. 1-72 : 8-9

6) Lutjanus purpureus (Poey 1866) ;

Lutjanidae .

Southern Red Snapper; Pargo Colorado ( Fig. 2H–I ).

Diagnosis: This species differs from the other species of the family occurring in the freshwaters of the country (Atlantic) by the following combination of characters: absence of blue iridescent lines or spots below the eye [vs. present in Lutjanus analis (Cuvier, 1828) and Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758) ]; absence of a black blotch on lateral line (vs. present in L. analis ); lateral line scales 47–51 (vs. 43–47 in L. griseus ); gill rakers on the lower gill arch 14–16 [vs. 12–14 in the other species); profile of anal fin angulate, with the middle rays prolonged [vs. rounded, without the middle rays prolonged in L. griseus and Lutjanus jocu (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) ]; and juveniles with a dark oblique stripe from snout through eye to top corner of operculum (not present in the other species).

Basis of the record: Three specimens were captured in the Matina River basin. Two in the Quebrada Hone Creek/río Carbón, Talamanca, Limón (9.67153, -82.79047), at 12 m. a.s.l., on October 6, 2007, by Maribel Mafla et al. (UCR 2751-001). Another specimen was captured in the río Moín, at the Puerto Fluvial JAPDEVA, Limón (09.99745, -83.08077), at 7 m. a.s.l., on December 14, 2006, by Karina Rodríguez (UCR 2761-003).

Remarks: This species inhabits estuarine areas and coastal environs, including rocky and coral reefs; it could be considered as an opportunistic visitor of freshwater ecosystems ( Robertson & Van Tassell 2019).

Figures

FIG. 2. New country records. (A) Amphilophus labiatus, specimen captured in the Río San Juan, San Carlos, Alajuela (ca 10.89057, -84.26540), at ca 26 m.a.s.l., in November 2020, by an anonymous angler. (B) Amphilophus labiatus, specimen captured in the Río Sapoá, La Cruz, Guanacaste (11.21815, -85.60819), at 8 m.a.s.l., on January 19, 1967, by William Bussing and Myrna López (UCR 0122-014). (C) Anchovia clupeoides, specimen captured in the Río Pacuare, near the mouth of the river, Siquirres, Limón (10.21952, -83.28254), at 8 m.a.s.l., on November 17, 2004, by Jorge Picado (UCR 2840-005). (D) Colossoma macropomum, specimen captured in the Río Bebedero, Portones de Taboga, Bebedero, Cañas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (10.36978, -85.19772), at 10 m.a.s.l., on March 27, 2020, by Javier Blandon. (E) Colossoma macropomum, specimen captured in the Río Bebedero, Altamira, Cañas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (10.35378, -85.20408), at 18 m.a.s.l., on April 30, 2021, by Agustin Guzman. (F) Gobioides peruanus being depredated by the Bare-throated Tiger Heron (Trigrisoma mexicanum Swainson, 1834), photo captured in the Quebrada Bomba Vieja (Barranca river basin), near the mouth of the Río Barranca, El Roble, Puntarenas (9.96228, -84.73493), at 6 m.a.s.l., on January 6, 2021, by Beto Guido Méndez (Bird watcher guide/Naturalist). (G) Hypostomus cf. niceforoi, specimens captured in the Humedal Caño Negro, Los Chiles, Alajuela (ca 10.89081, -84.79415), at ca 33 m.a.s.l., on May 11-16, 2016, by Didiher Chacón-Chaverri. (H) Lutjanus purpureus, specimen captured in the Quebrada Hone Creek/Río Carbón, Talamanca, Limón (9.67153, -82.79047), at 12 m.a.s.l., on October 6, 2007, by Maribel Mafla et al. (UCR 2751-001). (I) Lutjanus purpureus, specimen captured in the Río Moín, at the Puerto Fluvial JAPDEVA, Limón (09.99745, -83.08077), at 7 m.a.s.l., on December 14, 2006, by Karina Rodríguez (UCR 2761-003).