Austrofundulus guajira, Tomas Hrbek, Donald C. Taphorn & Jamie E. Thomerson, 2005

Tomas Hrbek, Donald C. Taphorn & Jamie E. Thomerson, 2005, Molecular phylogeny of Austrofundulus Myers (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), with revision of the genus and the description of four new species., Zootaxa 825, pp. 1-39 : 28-31

Austrofundulus guajira new species

Figures 14 and 15

Austrofundulus transilis de Beauford 1940: 110 (specimens listed from Guajira Peninsula, Colombia probably refer to this new species).

Holotype. FMNH 108223 (ex FMNH 85252). Adult male (55.1 mm) collected in a temporary pond 34 km west of Maicao, Colombia on road to Río Hacha, Colombia by J. E. Thomerson and P. Cala C. on 26 August 1972.

Paratypes. FMNH 85252, five additional specimens collected at the type locality together with the holotype. FMNH 85251, four additional specimens collected in a borrow pit approximately 8 km south of Río Hacha on road to Santa Marta, Colombia by J. E. Thomerson and P. Cala C. on 25 August 1972. FMNH 97709, three additional specimens collected in a temporary pond 7 km west of Maicao, Colombia on road to Río Hacha, Colombia by J. E. Thomerson and P. Cala C. on 26 August 1972. MCNG 17177, fifty three additional specimens collected about 2 km west of the Y fork in the road, going from Guarero, Venezuela to Maicao, Colombia; collection by J. E. Thomerson, O. León M. and N. Montilla M. on 6 July 1987. MCNG 17180, seventy nine additional specimens collected about 12 km southwest of Y fork in the road, going from Guarero to Carrasquero, Venezuela; collection by J. E. Thomerson, O. León M. and N. Montilla M. on 6 July 1987. Additionally, the two other paratypes (ex UMMZ 141917) collected by P. Wagner Hummelick in Pozo de Arroyo de Arara, El Cardon, Guajira are removed from the paratypes of A. limnaeus and transferred to paratypes of A. guajira .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all species of Austrofundulus by its robust size and by its dusky-gray to black background body color in all sexually mature males. The caudal fin of this species is without extensions, and it sometimes contains a bright red subterminal band, edged by a black terminal band. All fins are very round, without extensions, with the exception of the anal fin which in some large adult males has a small lance-like extension.

Description. The males have a steel-blue to gray colored background in the dorsal fin with several curved rows of dark gray to black spots. Basal spot are large, often joining into irregular or oblong flecks. Distal spots are smaller, and are arranged in a concentric pattern. In large individuals, the dorsal fin has a lance-like extension, but the overall shape of the fin is round. Females have clear dorsal fins with a few gray spots. The background color of the caudal fin is greenish, with grayish overtones. There are numerous small dull greenish-yellow spots that are arranged in irregular rows radiating from the base of the caudal fin. The distal edge has a black terminal edge. Many individuals also have a bright red subterminal band, which is anteriorly edged by a black edge. The caudal fin is very round, almost circular, and has neither dorsal nor ventral extensions. Females have a light grayish caudal fin, with few gray spots. The anal fin of males is patterned similarly to the dorsal fin. The background color is steel-blue to light gray with a few large gray flecks in the basal half of the anal fin. The large gray flecks transition into a black terminal margin. Large males possess lance-like extensions on the anal fin, but the overall shape of the fin is very round. The anal fin of females is clear or light gray, with a few faint basal spots. The pectoral fins of males are uniformly colored dusky steel-blue with a grayish edge, and some individuals have black specks scattered throughout the fin. The pelvic fins of males are similar to the pattern found on the anal fin. The background color is dusky steel-blue with a few large dull gray spots in the basal portion of the fin. The base of the pelvic fin is almost white, and blends with the color of the belly. Females have translucent, light gray pectoral and pelvic fins. The basic background color is steel-blue to gray, with numerous dull light gray to almost white spots. The light spots are predominant in the central portion of the body, with the caudal peduncle containing relatively few spots. The ventrum is light gray to almost white, without spots, while the dorsum is darker than the rest of the body. In females the sides are grayish to dark gray, the body is not spotted. As in males, the abdomen of females is lighter than the rest of the body, while the dorsum is darker. A black bar passes obliquely through the eye onto the head (posteriorly above and anteriorly below the eye) in both sexes. The iris is silver. The upper portion of the head is dark gray, the lower light gray to cream. In females the head is predominantly gray or olive dorsally, and lighter ventrally. For meristics and morphometrics see Table 8. Austrofundulus guajira attains up to 71.6 mm SL with a mean length of 43.4 mm SL. Females are of equal size as males.

Etymology. This species is named for the Guajira peninsula of Venezuela and Colombia, an area where it occurs.

Distribution. Known from the xeric regions of the Guajira peninsula of NW Venezuela and NE Colombia, north - northwest of the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela.