Aphyolebias boticarioi, Wilson J. E. M. Costa, 2004

Wilson J. E. M. Costa, 2004, Moema apurinan sp. n. and Aphyolebias boticarioi sp. n. (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae): two new annual killifishes from the Rio Purus basin, Brazilian Amazon., Zootaxa 707, pp. 1-12 : 7-11

Aphyolebias boticarioi new species

(Figs. 4-5)

Holotype. UFRJ 5986, male, 42.1 mm SL; Brazil: Estado do Acre: Porto Acre, temporary pool within forest, Rio Acre floodplains, Rio Purus drainage, Rio Amazonas basin (9o35’14.8”S 67o31’57.0”W; altitude 133 m); W. J. E. M. Costa, S. Lima and A. Pinto, 10 June 2003.

Paratypes. UFRJ 5987, 4 males, 36.2-45.3 mm SL, 7 females, 32.4-47.1 mm SL ; UFRJ 5988, 2 males, 43.1-44.7 mm SL, 2 females, 38.6-43.3 mm SL (c&s); collected with holotype .

Diagnosis: The new species is distinguished from all congeners in having a deeper body (body depth 23.4-26.5% SL, vs. 20.2-23.6% SL). Similar to A. obliquus ; both are distinguished from all other species of the genus by possessing dark brown spots on the pectoral fin in males (vs. spots absent). The new species differs from A. obliquus by having fewer anal-fin rays (14-16 vs. 16-18) and fewer pectoral-fin rays (13-14 vs. 15-16). Aphyolebias boticarioi is similar to A. rubrocaudatus , A. obliquus , A. claudiae and A. schleseri , but is distinguished from A. peruensis , A. wischmanni and A. manuensis by having a black stripe on the ventral margin of the caudal fin in males (vs. black stripe absent); distinguished from A. rubrocaudatus , A. obliquus , A. claudiae and A. schleseri , by having dark brown spots restricted to the posterior portion of the anal fin in males (vs. brown spots on the entire fin), and by the absence of a distal black stripe on the anal fin (vs. presence in males). The new species is also distinguished from A. rubrocaudatus by having an orange stripe only on the ventral portion of the fin in males (vs. an orange stripe on the ventral portion, and another similar stripe on the dorsal of the caudal fin); from A. claudiae by the absence of a black humeral blotch in males (vs. presence) and fewer anal-fin rays (14-16 vs. 16-19), and from A. schleseri by possessing more vertebrae (33-34, vs. 32) and more gill-rakers on first branchial arch (2 + 10, vs. 1 + 8).

Description: Morphometric data given in Table 2. Male usually larger than female, but largest specimen, female 47.1 mm SL. Dorsal profile gently convex from snout to end of dorsal-fin base, approximately straight on caudal peduncle. Ventral profile slightly convex between lower jaw and end of anal-fin base, nearly straight on caudal peduncle. Body somewhat deep, subcylindrical anteriorly, deeper than wide, to compressed posteriorly. Greatest body depth at level of pelvic-fin base. Jaws short, snout slightly pointed.

Tip of dorsal fin slightly pointed. Anal fin rectangular, with short pointed tip in male, longer than deep in male, wider than long in female. Caudal fin subtruncate; short filaments on dorsal portion of posterior edge, and pointed ventral extension in male. Pectoral fin lanceolate, tip reaching vertical between anus and anal-fin origin in male, between pelvic-fin base and anus in female. Pelvic fin pointed, tip reaching between base of 1st and 4th anal-fin rays in male, and between urogenital papilla and base of 2nd anal-fin ray in female. Pelvic-fin bases in close proximity in male, and separated by small interspace, about half pelvic-fin base, in female. Dorsal-fin origin on vertical through base of 9th or 10th anal-fin ray, and between neural spines of 20th and 21st vertebrae. Anal-fin origin between pleural ribs of 14th and 15th vertebrae. Dorsal-fin rays 8-10; anal-fin rays 14-16; caudal-fin rays 26-28; pectoral-fin rays 13-14; pelvic-fin rays 7.

Scales large, cycloid. Body and head entirely scaled, except anterior ventral surface of head. Body scales extending over caudal-fin base; no scales on dorsal and anal fins. Frontal squamation E-patterned; E-scales not overlapping medially; scales arranged in irregular circular pattern around A-scale without exposed margins. Longitudinal series of scales 33- 35; transverse series of scales 8; scale rows around caudal peduncle 16. Minute ctenii-like contact organs on scales of median portion of male flank. Supraorbital neuromasts 3 + 3.

Interhyal vestigial, not ossified. Rostral cartilage longer than wide, width 70% length. Basihyal subtriangular, width 60% length; basihyal cartilage 35% basihyal length. Six branchiostegal rays. Second pharyngobranchial with one or two small teeth. Gill-rakers of first branchial arch 2 + 10. Vomerine teeth 3-4. Ventral process of posttemporal present. Total vertebrae 33-34.

Coloration: Male: Side of body pale bluish green; dark red crimson dots irregularly scattered over flank, barely aligned in oblique or longitudinal rows. Dorsum gray with brown dots, venter white. Side of head greenish golden, usually with dark reddish brown blotches on preopercle and postorbital area. Jaws light brown. Ventral surface of head white. Iris yellowish green, with dark brown bar crossing center of eye. Dorsal fin pale greenish yellow with small dark reddish brown spots. Anal fin light orangish yellow, basal region light blue, with small dark reddish brown spots on posterior portion. Caudal fin with alternating light blue and red small spots, forming chessboard-like pattern; ventral margin of fin with broad orangish red stripe with bright yellow dorsal and ventral contour, dorsally outlined by dark reddish brown stripe, ventrally outlined by black stripe. Pectoral fin yellowish hyaline with dark reddish brown dots. Pelvic fin light orangish yellow with small brown spots.

Female: Side of body pale green, sometimes with faint brown dots. Dorsum light brown with brown dots, venter white. Side of head pale metallic green with faint brown spots. Jaws gray. Infraorbital region and ventral surface of head white. Iris greenish yellow, with pale brown bar crossing center of eye. Dorsal and anal fins hyaline with small dark brown spots. Caudal fin hyaline, with faint gray spots on dorsal region and narrow dark gray stripe on ventral margin. Pectoral fin hyaline. Pelvic fin hyaline with small brown spots.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality, Rio Acre floodplains, Rio Purus drainage, Rio Amazonas basin, northwestern Brazil (Fig. 6).

Habitat notes: All specimens were collected in a single small (about 5 m long and about 3 m wide) and shallow (about 0.30-0.40 m deep) temporary pool, with dark brown water, within the forest close to the Rio Acre. No aquatic vegetation.

Etymology: The name boticarioi after the Fundação O Boticário de Proteção À Natureza, in recognition to the support provided to studies on diversity and conservation of annual killifishes.