Simpsonichthys magnificus

Wilson J. E. M. Costa, 2007, Taxonomic revision of the seasonal South American killifish genus Simpsonichthys (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae)., Zootaxa 1669, pp. 1-134 : 81

Simpsonichthys magnificus species group

Diagnosis

Distinguished from other species groups of Simpsonichthys by having dark bluish gray bars alternating with red bars on anterior portion of flanks in males (secondarily dark gray bars absent and red bars present only in young males of S. adornatus ) (vs. never a similar color pattern).

Included species

Simpsonichthys hellneri (Berkenkamp), S. adornatus Costa, S. fulminantis (Costa & Brasil), S. carlettoi Costa & Nielsen, S. magnificus (Costa & Brasil), and S. picturatus Costa.

Distribution

Middle rio São Francisco basin (Fig. 4).

Key to species of the S. magnificus group

1a. Filamentous rays on tip of dorsal and anal fins short in males, reaching vertical between base and middle of caudal fin, or absent; vertically elongated minute bright blue spots at least on anterior portion of flank in males ............................................................................................................................. 2

1b. Filamentous rays on tip of dorsal and anal fins reaching posterior margin of caudal fin in males; round minute bright blue spots on flank in males ............................................................................ S. hellneri

2a(1a). Dorsal-fin rays 19-25 in males; dorsal-fin origin on vertical between pelvic-fin base and anal-fin origin in males; all bright spots of flank vertically elongated in males; no spots on caudal peduncle in females.. ................................................................................................................................................. 3

2b(1a). Dorsal-fin rays 28-32 in males; dorsal-fin origin on vertical between pectoral-fin base and pelvic-fin base in males; anterior bright spots vertically elongated, posterior spots rounded on flank in males; two black blotches on posterior portion of caudal peduncle in females.. ......................... S. adornatus

3a(2a). Pectoral fins red in males; unpaired fins with transverse rows of bright blue marks in males.. ............................................................. 4

3b(2a). Pectoral fins hyaline in males; unpaired fins with bright blue lines parallel to fin rays in males. ..................................................................................... ...................................................... S. fulminantis

4a(3a). Dorsal and anal fins rounded, without filaments, in males; black distal margin on unpaired fins in males.. .............................................................................. ..................................................................... 5

4b(3a). Dorsal and anal fins pointed, with short filaments on tip, in males; distal margin of unpaired fins without distinctive pigmentation in males.. ................ ................................................................. S. carlettoi

5a(4a). Flanks with 8-10 red bars in males, 18-20 brown bars in females; greenish blue dots on unpaired fins in males. ……………………………… ............. ............................................................... S. picturatus

5b(4a). Flanks with 5-7 red bars in males, 13-15 brown bars in females; greenish blue vermiculate transverse stripes on unpaired fins in males.. .................................................................................... S. magnificus