The species of the Hypostomus cochliodon group (Siluriformes: Loricariidae).
Jonathan W. Armbruster
Zootaxa
2003
249
1
60
3NZ9V
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E17BFCB-CFC3-4096-8202-76C9E23D3D1F
Loricariidae
Hypostomus
CoL
Animalia
Hypostomus pagei Armbruster 2003:39
Siluriformes
39
Chordata
species
pagei
(Figs. 14B, 18)
Nontype material: VENEZUELA. Lara: RioCurarigua, RioTucuyo dr. Paso San Antonio, pozo de la Iguana near Curarigua, MBUCVV-18450, 4, (83.4-187.7). RioCurarigua, RioTucuyo dr. Puente Torres at bridge, INHS28867, 1, (172.5). Yaracuy: RioYurubi, RioYaracuy dr. ca. entrance to Guayabito, 10°29’08”N, 68°39’40”W, MCNG27617, 1, (88.0). Tributary, RioYaracuy dr. E Marin, INHS28902, 2, (84.9-91.8).
Diagnosis: Hypostomus pageidiffers from most other members of the H. cochliodongroup mainly in coloration: a light, gray-brown with the spots considerably faded or absent (vs. a deep, dark brown with the spots well-developed). Juvenile H. pageiadditionally have the caudal fin darkest along both spines and at the base, clear medially (Fig. 14B), a color pattern not found in any other members of the H. cochliodongroup. Hypostomus pageiis most similar to H. hondaeand H. plecostomoides. Hypostomus pageidiffers from H. hondaeand H. plecostomoidesby the general absence of spots on the caudal fin and/or caudal-fin spines ( H. pageimay have some very faint spots on the caudal-fin spines; some H. plecostomoideslack spots on the caudal-fin spines, but the spines are almost black instead of light gray-brown) and by having shorter pectoral-fin spines (reaching 0-1 plates beyond pelvic fin when depressed below the pelvic fin vs. 2-3 plates with the exception of one specimen of H. pageithat has pectoral-fin spines that reach two plates beyond the pelvic fin and the one specimen of H. plecostomoidesexamined from the Lago Valencia drainage that has pectoral-fin spines that do not reach beyond the pelvic fin).
Description: See description of the Hypostomus cochliodongroup for more details. Morphometric data given in Table 4. Color gray-brown. Spots, if present, usually very faint and restricted to paired fins, dorsal fin, head, anterior part of body and/or abdomen. Spots particularly faint in adults. Caudal fin darkest distomedially. Spots absent from entire caudal fin in adults. Juveniles with faint spots on caudal-fin spines and dark brown along spines and base (Fig. 14B). Caudal fin coloration darker than body color in juveniles, lightens ontogenetically until equal to body color. Juveniles typically slightly darker overall than adults. Dorsal fin short, falling short of preadipose plate. Depressed pectoral-fin spine ventral to pelvic fin reaches beyond bases of pelvic-fin rays, but to a lesser extent than in other species of the H. cochliodongroup (0-1 plate vs. 2-3 plates in most other specimens of the H. cochliodongroup). Keels weak, almost absent. Orbits forming slight ridge slightly raised above medial surface of head; ridges of dorsal and lateral aspect of head fairly smooth. Longitudinal ridge formed of raised bone and slightly larger odontodes absent on pterotic-supracleithrum beginning at postdorsal corner of orbit. Opercle usually broadly exposed, always supporting much more than ten odontodes. Plates in skin anterior to dorsal-fin spine absent or few (Fig. 6A; Table 7). Each jaw with 7-17 teeth (mode = 11), teeth large and spoon-shaped. Average angle between dentaries 63° (SD = 5°; range: 53°-73°; N=14). Lateral line plates 27-29; dorsal plates 8-9; interdorsal plates 6-8; adipose caudal plates 9-10.
Range: Found in northwestern Venezuela in the RioAroa, RioTocuyo, and RioYaracuy basins, short rivers that drain directly into Caribbean Sea (Fig. 11). Hypostomus pageiis allopatric to all other species of the H. cochliodongroup.
Etymology: Named for Dr. Lawrence M. Page for his help and guidance during my career, and to honor the fact that he helped to collect a majority of the specimens of this species.
1058481076
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481173
Venezuela
Falcon
1058481127
Venezuela
Falcon
1058481136
Venezuela
Falcon
1058481219
Venezuela
Falcon
1058481110
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481132
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481168
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481101
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481221
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481128
Venezuela
Lara
1058481208
Venezuela
Lara
1058481119
Venezuela
Yaracuy
1058481151
Venezuela
Yaracuy