Redescription of Odontostilbe pulchra (Gill, 1858) (Teleostei: Characidae: Cheirodontinae), and description of two new species from the río Orinoco basin
Author
Bührnheim, Cristina M.
Author
Malabarba, Luiz R.
text
Neotropical Ichthyology
2007
2007-03-31
5
1
1
20
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252007000100001&lng=en&tlng=en
journal article
5735
10.1590/S1679-62252007000100001
be160b91-029a-4201-9739-ab3e8a242547
1982-0224
4567004
Odontostilbe pulchra
(
Gill, 1858
)
Fig. 1
Poecilurichthys pulcher
Gill, 1858: 419
[original description,
type
locality: western portion of the
Island
of
Trinidad
].
Tetragonopterus pulcher
. -
Günther, 1864: 317
[new generic combination].
Chirodon
(
Odontostilbe
)
pulcher
. -
Lütken, 1875: 236-238
[new generic combination, redescription].
Odontostilbe pulcher
. -
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1892: 54
[new generic combination]. -
Eigenmann, 1909: 327
[listed,
Trinidad
]. -
Eigenmann, 1910: 429
[listed,
Trinidad
]. -
Price, 1955: 11
,
Fig. 3
[map with distribution in the Caroni, Caparo, and northern Oropouche drainages in
Trinidad
, known to occur inVenezuela]. -
Boeseman, 1960:72
, 88-89 [listed, synonym list]. -
Eigenmann, 1920: 4
, 9-10 [listed to the Valencia basin,
Venezuela
, Maracay, Rio Bue]. -
Schultz, 1944: 318- 319
[list of synonyms, specimen from Caripito,
Venezuela
].
Cheirodon pulcher
. -
Ulrey, 1895: 289-290
[in key, including teeth counts,
Trinidad
].
Chirodon pulcher
. -
Regan, 1906: 378
, 380, 385, Pl. XXII.
Fig. 2
[species redescription, distribution
Trinidad
, Cumuto, partial designation in key, illustration]. -
Guppy, 1934: 118
, 120-122,
Fig. 5
[recorded in ponds and water holes in the vicinity of rice fields, compilation of
Regan’s 1906
drawing, listed as larvicidal fish, usually in dams, only from
Trinidad
].
Odontostilbe pulchra
. -
Eigenmann, 1915: 90
, 95-96, Pl. XVII.
Fig. 1
[in key, Regan’s characters compilation, reproduction of Regan’s illustration]. -
Fowler, 1943: 65-66
.
Fig. 2
[common name sardine doree, drawing of a specimen]. -
Böhlke, 1954: 137-140
[possibly synonym of
Odontostilbe fugitiva
, table with measurements and counts of
O. pulchra
and
O. fugitiva
]. -
Géry, 1977: 558
[in key].
Syntypes
.
MNHN
0000-9593, 2 (females
28.7mm
SL and
30.8mm
SL), western portion of
Trinidad
.
Non-type material. Uncertain drainage,
TRINIDAD
:
CAS
70933,
1
(male
24.7 mm
SL),
10°37’N
61°13’W
.
Cunapo River
basin
,
TRINIDAD
:
INHS 40081
,
4
m (
2 females
32.6-33.3 mm
SL, 2 unsexed
26.3-29.9mm
SL),
Quare River
,
1km
E Valencia
on road to
Arima
.
Fig. 1.
Odontostilbe pulchra
, syntype MNHN 0000-9593, female 28.7 mm SL (top), a specimen INHS 40101, male 32.3 mm SL from Trinidad (middle top), and specimens MCP 38863, male 28.6 mm SL (middle bottom), and female 32.5 mm SL (bottom) from río Orinoco basin.
Caroni River basin,
TRINIDAD:
ANSP 70181
,
1
(unsexed
18.2 mm
SL), sent from
Port-of-Spain
.
INHS 40101
,
20
m (
13 males
29.4- 32.7 mm
SL,
1 male
32.5 mm
SL c&s,
4 females
33.6-34.6 mm
SL,
1 female
34.4 mm
SL c&s, and 1 unsexed
25.1 mm
SL),
Cumuto River
,
5 km
S Brazil
on the road to Talparo.
ROM
41035,
9
unsexed
17.9- 27.6 mm
, east side of north-south canal south of
Blue river
,
Caroni
swamp
.
ROM
44764,
20
m (
6 males
26.2-28.6 mmSL,
11 females
28.4-36.9 mm
SL, 3 unsexed
28.3-31.2 mm
SL), near
Bamboo Grove on Churchill
and
Roosevelt
highway,
St. Joseph River
.
ROM 1082
,
2
c&s (
1 male
, 1 unsexed), near
Bamboo Grove on Churchill
and
Roosevelt
highway,
St. Joseph River
.
ROM 1139
CS
, 1 c&s, near
Bamboo Grove on Churchill
and
Roosevelt
highway,
St. Joseph River
.
USNM 290410
,
7
unsexed
30.8-37.2 mm
SL,
Valencia River
, [Aripo River drainage, upper Caroni River basin]
.
USNM 177552
,
50
(2c of
10 females
27.1-36.3 mm
SL,
11 males
26.6-32.1 mm
SL, 6 unsexed
14.6-18.2 mm
SL), [
Caroni County
],
Piarco.
O’Meara River
basin, TRINIDAD
:
ROM
41069,
1
m (female 35.0 mm SL), small stream,
13 miles
east of
Port Spain on Churchill-Roosevelt
highway, at B1- 13,
10°38’N
61°20’W
.
Bejucal River
basin,
TRINIDAD
:
UMMZ 189000
,
20
of 40 (20 unsexed
18.5-29.2 mm
SL), [
Caroni County
,
Cunupia
],
Mt. Plaisance Village
, BWI.
Tuy River
basin -
Caribbean
coastal drainage
,
VENEZUELA
:
INHS 29318
,
16
(
3 males
24.8- 27.0 mm SL,
1 male
28.9 mm
SL, 12 unsexed 12.5-32.0 mm SL),
Miranda
,
Quebrada Querepe
, tributary of
río Merecure
,
5 km
NE Caucagua.
Río Unare
basin - Caribbean coastal drainage,
VEN-
EZUELA
:
ANSP 165594
,
2
(unsexed
18.9-21.8 mm
SL) alizarin stained, [
Anzoategui
],
Laguna
at
San Pable, L
.
Encantada
.
INHS 31295
,
5
(
1 male
34.0 mm SL, 4 unsexed
20.5-22.9 mm
SL),
Guarico
, quebrada
Honda
,
río Unare
,
7 km
W Zaraza
,
hwy. 13.
Lake Valencia
basin
,
VENEZUELA
:
CAS
70934,
43
(
19 males
28.5-31.3 mm
SL,
9 females
31.5-36.4 mm
SL, 15 unsexed
24.7-37.9 mm
SL),
Aragua
, [
río Bue
],
Maracay
.
MCP
14945,
9
(
1 male
29.8 mm
SL, 8 unsexed
25.1- 34.5 mm
SL), caño
Cambur
tributary to
Lake Valencia
,
11 km
S El Valencia
, formerly
ANSP 150108
.
INHS 60011
,
6
(
1 male
29.2 mm
SL, 5 unsexed
24.4-29.3 mm
SL),
Carabobo
,
río Las Penitas
,
Vigirima
,
10°20’N
67°52’W
.
Río Meta
basin
,
COLOMBIA
,
META
:
ANSP 128231
,
10
of 41 (
7 males
24.6-28.9 mm
SL,
3 females
29.5-30.5 mm
SL),
río Metica
ca.
3 km
SE Mozambique
ranch,
03°57’N
73°02’W
.
ANSP 131976
,
21
(
5 males
26.4-31.6 mm
SL, 16 unsexed
25.1-37.7 mm
SL),
río Metica
,
ca.
1.5 km
E of Rajote.
ANSP 131977
,
10
(
2 males
25.5-31.3 mm
SL, 8 unsexed
25.1-32.6 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 131976
.
ANSP 133239
,
2
(unsexed 28.0-
32.1 mm
SL), caño
Rico
at
Brasília
.
ANSP 139335
,
8
(unsexed
25.1-35.6 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 128231
.
ANSP 139346
,
10
x of 15 (
6 males
21.2-30.8 mm
SL,
2 females
32.0-
30.1 mm
SL, 7 unsexed
25.3- 31.5 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 128231
.
ANSP 139347
,
1
(female
29.6 mm
SL), tributary of caño
El
Chocho
ca.
5 km
N of La Siberia.
ANSP 139348
,
10
(
2 males
23.1 mm
SL & 25.0 mm SL, 8 unsexed
24.4-29.5 mm
SL), tributary of caño
La
Raya, 1
st
caño
N of La Siberia.
ANSP 139349
,
3
(females
29.1-33.5 mm
SL), laguna
El Batin
,
ca.
4 km
SW upstream of
lake Mozambique
, S side of
río Metica
.
ANSP 139450
,
8
of 21 (
4 males
24.2-25.9 mm
SL,
4 females
25.7-27.5 mm
SL)
,
MCP
40990 (
1 male
24.3 mm
SL c&s,
1 female
26.9 mm
SL c&s), laguna
Doctor Sanchez
, a cut-off oxbow, entrance
ca.
5 km
SW from inlet to
lake Mozambique
,
03°56’N
73°08’W
.
ANSP 139452
,
2
(
1 male
25.4 mm
SL,
1 female
25.5 mm
SL),
río Negro
, downstream from main
Villavicencio-Puerto Lopez
highway at
La Balsa, W
side of river
.
ANSP 139456
,
1
(female
33.8 mm
SL),
río Negrito
at bridge on road joining
Puerto Lopez
and
Villavicencio
, 200-400 yd downstream of bridge
.
ANSP 139469
,
4
(
2 males
24.2- 27.3 mm
SL,
2 females
27.1-27.6 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 139349
.
ANSP 139471
,
23
of 63 (
11 males
23.1-27.4 mm
SL,
12 females
28.4-32.6mm
SL), caño
Rico
at
La
Defensa,
NW of Laguna Mozambique
,
becomes caño Buenaventura before entering
río Negro
.
ANSP 139472
,
94
m (
4 males
23.0-25.0 mm SL,
4 females
27.2-34.7 mm
SL), tributary of
La Raya
, 1
st
caño north of
La Siberia
,
04°50’N
73°05’W
.
ANSP 139485
,
74
(
14 males
18.9-23.6 mm
SL, 60 unsexed
18.3-24.3 mm
SL),
Mozambique
ranch,
lake Mozambique
, N shore at main house
.
ANSP 139572
,
3
x of 128 (
68 males
20.9-31.1 mm
SL, 60 unsexed
24.5-33.9 mm
SL),
río Negrito
at bridge at
La Balsa
.
ANSP 139579
,
20
m of 199 (
10 males
16.6-25.7 mm
SL,
10 females
23.1- 29.2 mm
SL),
Mozambique
ranch,
lake Mozambique
, N end directly in front of main house
.
ANSP 140762
,
1
(male
24.6 mm
SL),
Metica river
, upstream from entrance to
lake Mozambique
, halfway to entrance to laguna
Arrotas
.
ANSP 140794
,
19
(
3 males
20.5-24.5 mm
SL, 16 unsexed
18.6-29.8 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 139347
.
ANSP 140830
,
34
(
9 males
24.5-28.8 mm
SL,
2 females
32.9 mm
SL, 23 unsexed
21.7-31.7 mm
SL), confluence of
río Guayariba
and
río Metica
.
FMNH 84037
,
4
(1 unsexed 26.7,
3 males
26.6-28.3 mm
SL),
río Meta
, temporary pool near caño
Venturosa
, at
1 km
N Puerto Lopez.
ICNMHN 935, 1 (female
40.4 mm
SL), Meta, [Cundinamarca], Quebrada Tascona,
río Guacavia
, [upper río Meta]
.
INPA 25174
,
30
(
15 males
23.2-30.0 mm SL, 15 unsexed 24.1-32.0 mm SL), same data as ANSP 139572
.
MCP
14942,
5
(
2 males
27.9-
27.6 mm
SL, 3 unsexed
23.2-26.8 mm
SL),
Mozambique
ranch,
río Metica
, just
SW of lake Mozambique.
MCP
14946,
5
(females
25.7-30.7 mm
SL),
lake Mozambique
,
Mozambique
ranch N side, formerly 137577
.
MCP
14952,
5
(females
27.9-32.4 mm
SL), same locality as ANSP 139347, formerly
ANSP 134733
.
MCP
14956,
20
(
10 males
19.1-24.2 mm
SL, 10 unsexed
14.9-23.3 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 139579
.
MCP
14964,
10
(
4 males
29.2-31.6 mm
SL, 8 unsexed
28.2-32.1 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 131977
.
MCP
14965,
20
(
3 males
23.8-26.4, 17 unsexed 22.3-28.0 mm SL), formerly
ANSP 139472
.
MCP
14966,
20
(
7 males
25.1-30.8 mm
, 13 unsexed
29.6-34.4 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 131976
.
MCP
14975,
20
(
1m
male
29.5 mm
SL,
1m
female
29.6 mm
SL, 18 unsexed
16.2-23.2 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 139485
.
MCP
38863,
19
m of 49 (
9 males
22.4-29.9mm
SL,
1 male
30.6mm
SL c&s,
3 females
32.0-
33.4 mm
SL,
1 female
30.8 mm
SL c&s, and 5 unsexed 24.2-
22.8 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 139572
.
MHNG 2171.39
,
2
(unsexed
26.7-28.3 mm
SL),
Villavicencio
,
upper río Meta
.
MHNG 2171.82
,
2
(unsexed
20.8-21.4 mm
SL), floodplains, caño
Carupa
of
río Guachariria.
Golfo de Paria
coastal drainage, VEN-
EZUELA
,
MONAGAS
:
ANSP 150112
,
9
(
1 male
29.7 mm
, 8 unsexed
26.7-34.1 mm
SL),
río Pina
,
6 km
N of Maturín
,
[
Golfo de Paria
]
.
MCP
14970,
8
(unsexed
25.5-32.2 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 150112
.
INHS 31438
,
11
(
2 males
27.2-34.7 mm
SL, 9 unsexed
18.9-38.4 mm
SL),
río De Oro
, río Guarapiche-
río San Juan
drainage,
4 km
SW Jusepín.
INHS 31461
,
14
(unsexed
18.8-33.6 mm
SL),
río Guanipa
(
Caribbean Sea Dr.
),
20 km
SSE Maturín
on hwy. 10.
INHS 31485
,
9
(unsexed
19.7-25.9 mm
SL),
río Tigre
,
50 km
of
Maturín
, rt. 10 bridge
.
USNM 163149
,
11
(
8 males
27.9-31.9 mm
SL, 3 unsexed
31.1-37.3 mm
SL),
Caicara
,
Guarapiche river
.
Río Orinoco
basin
,
VENEZUELA
,
ANZOATEGUI
:
ANSP 159909
,
7
(unsexed
21.9-27.2 mm
SL),
río Orinoco
at
Soledad
boat launch just below
Puente Angostura
.
INHS 61950
,
14
(
4 males
23.8-26.8 mm
SL, 10 unsexed
20.9- 28.3 mm
SL), [río Caris], in hato
El
Moron,
SE of El Tigre.
VEN-
EZUELA
,
BOLIVAR
:
ANSP 160790
,
5
x of 40 (unsexed 20.0-
31.6 mm
SL), river and flooded area
15 km
N of
Maniapure on Caicara
-
Puerto
Ayacucho hwy (
río Chaviripa
?)
.
ANSP 160819
,
20
(
1 male
29.2 mm
SL, 19 unsexed
20.9-35.1 mm
SL), small stream crossing
Caicara
-
Puerto
Ayacucho hwy
18 km
N of Maniapure.
USNM 233520
,
95
(unsexed
16.1-23.4 mm
SL),
río Orocopiche
,
ca.
15 km
from mouth in
río Orinoco
, downstream from route 19 bridge,
08°03’N
63°40’W
.
VENEZUELA
,
DELTA
AMACURO
:
USNM 233359
,
97
(unsexed 18.3-25.0 mm SL),
río Orinoco
, small caño on w side just above downstream mouth of caño
Remolinos
, 74 nautical miles upstream from
Sea Buoy
.
USNM 233652
,
37
(unsexed
19.8-31.8 mm
SL),
río Orinoco
, backwater caño
Araguao
, 112 nautical miles upstream from
Sea Buoy
.
USNM 233689
,
6
(unsexed
23.7-26.7 mm
SL),
río Orinoco
, lagoon at caño
Araguaito
,
ca.
km 130
.
VENEZUELA
,
MONAGAS
:
USNM 233745
,
31
(
1 male
25.5 mm
SL, 30 unsexed
18.6-26.8 mm
SL),
río Orinoco
,
Barrancas
, laguna
El Guatero
, 143 nautical miles upstream from
Sea Buoy.
Río
Essequibo
basin,
Cuyuní
drainage
,
VENEZUELA
,
BOLIVAR
:
CAS
70907,
9
(unsexed
19.9-23.6 mm
SL),
río Carichapo
,
30 km
E of Upata
,
200 km
E of ciudad Bolivar.
INHS 31574
,
5
(unsexed 20.7-27.0 mm SL),
río Oronata
,
río Yuruari
drainage, between
Upata
&
El
Manteco
.
INHS 31625
,
20
(
2 males
24.7-25.2 mm
SL,
1 female
26.6 mm
SL, 17 unsexed
19.9-25.4 mm
SL), tributary of
río Yuruari
,
3 km
W Guasipati
via
La
Pastora
.
INHS 31662
,
7
(unsexed
21.2-26.2 mm
SL), tributary of
río Yuruari
, near
La
Pastora,
W of Guasipati.
INHS 31754
,
16
(
3 males
20.8-23.1 mm
SL, 13 unsexed
20.7-28.5 mm
SL),
río Corumo
,
E Tumeremo
on road to
Bochinche
.
INHS 31718
,
23
unsexed
17.9- 23.7 mm
SL,
río Guanare
,
río Yuruari
drainage,
El
Miamo
.
INHS 31744
,
14
(
4 males
21.4-24.5 mm
SL,
7 females
22.8-25.5 mm
SL, 3 unsexed
21.2-21.6 mm
SL), tributary of
río Corumo
,
E Tumeremo
on road to Bochinche.
Río Apure
basin
,
VENEZUELA
,
GUARICO
:
ANSP 139544
,
7
(unsexed
22.7-25.5 mm
SL),
Camaguán
swamp, on W side of highway to
San Fernando de Apure
,
ca.
2 km
N of Camaguán.
ANSP 141553
,
16
(unsexed
16.3-26.6 mm
SL),
río Orituco
, tributary of
río Guarico
,
15 km
SSE of Calabozo on Cazorla Road.
ANSP 149992
,
4
(
2 males
31.0-
32.8 mm
SL, 2 unsexed
22.4-25.9 mm
SL), [
upper río Guarico
], lagoon
2-15 km
SW El Sombrero.
ANSP 163489
,
7
(
3 males
23.2-24.5 mm
SL, 4 unsexed
25.6-25.9 mm
SL),
río Portuguesa
; caño
Falcón
, laguna
La Raya
near
Camaguán
.
CAS
70882,
3
(
2 males
26.1-
25.8 mm
SL,
1 female
28.0 mm SL), spring brook, a tributary to
río Guarico
,
5 km
south of
Calabozo
.
CAS
70906,
30
of 119 (unsexed 19.0-
34.2 mm
SL), spring brook, tributary of
río Guarico
,
6 km
southwest of
Calabozo
.
MCP
14961,
6
(unsexed
18.2-25.3 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 139544
.
MCP
14976,
16
(unsexed
16.8-28.4 mm
SL), formerly
ANSP 141553
.
USNM 260590
,
10
(unsexed
18.8-28.8 mm
SL),
río Orituco
where crossed by road from
Calabozo
.
VENEZUELA
,
APURE
:
ANSP 140752
,
12
(unsexed 19.0-
28.7 mm
SL),
río Apure
, S bank and backwater areas downstream side of bridge at
San Fernando de Apure
.
INHS 28049
,
17
(unsexed
18.6-26.7 mm
SL),
río Arauca
overflow pool,
upper río Apure
, north edge of
Elorza
.
INHS 89783
,
22
(unsexed of 140
13.5-16.9 mm
SL), caño
Caicara
,
río Matiyure
drainage,
ca.
15 km
SSW Mantecal on Bruzual-Elorza
road.
USNM 260598
,
28
(
16 males
28.3-35.0 mm SL, 11 unsexed
19.4-22.9 mm
SL),
Centro de Recria M.A.C.
–
Mantecal
, pools along side of road about
2.5 km
south of road from
Mantecal
.
USNM 260601
,
21
(
3 males
21.1-22.2 mm
SL, 18 unsexed
21.2-29.5 mm
SL), side channel of
río Apure
ca.
5 km
west of
San Fernando de Apure
.
USNM 330330
,
2
(
1 male
25.1 mm
SL,
1 female
25.3 mm
SL), modulos experimentales de
Mantecal
.
VENEZUELA
,
PORTUGUESA
:
CAS
64404,
4
(unsexed
19.3-30.7 mm
SL), caño
Maraca
en el puente
60 km
via Guanare-
Guanarito
road
.
FMNH 96160
,
20
(
1 male
31.1 mm
SL, 19 unsexed
25.4-31.2 mm
SL),
Guanare
,
río Maria
, side pool,
800 m
upstream from bridge,
4 km
E of Guanare.
INHS 54553
,
20
(unsexed of 48
16.7- 22.8 mm
SL), caño
Maraca
, caño
Ignes
,
río Portuguesa
drainage, on road from
Guanare
to
Guanarito
at
60 km
marker
.
INHS 54650
,
3
(unsexed 18.0-
19.9 mm
SL),
río Portuguesa
,
Hwy.
5 bridge
.
INHS 56134
,
1
(unsexed
20.1 mm
SL),
río Portuguesa
,
Hwy.
5 bridge
.
INHS 89824
,
6
(unsexed
13.3-16.8 mm
SL), caño
Mamón
,
río Portuguesa
drainage,
El
Mamón,
24 km
E Guanare.
USNM 332091
,
10
(
1 male
32.0 mm SL, 9 unsexed
25.6-32.1 mm
SL),
río Portuguesa
, cerca
de Nueva Florida
.
USNM 348669
,
1
unsexed (
26.3 mm
SL), Guanare-
Guanarito
road at road
Km
60,
08°49’39’’N
69°20’42’’W
.
VENEZU- ELA
,
COJEDES
:
CAS
70884,
45
(
1 male
27.6 mm
SL, 44 unsexed
22.4-29.8 mm
SL),
río Tinaquillo
,
Orinoco
basin
.
CAS
70901,
14
unsexed
25.9-38.2 mm
SL, same locality as CAS 70884
.
VENEZU- ELA
,
LARA
:
CAS
70900,
5
(unsexed
19.5-22.4 mm
SL), quebrada
Seca
near
Moran
,
25 km
.
S of Barquisimeto.
VENEZUELA
,
TACHIRA
:
INHS 28152
,
27
(
4 males
21.0-
22.7 mm
SL, 23 unsexed
15.1-24.2 mm
SL), tributary of
río Doradas
,
upper río Apure
,
La Pedrera.
VEN-
EZUELA
,
ARAGUA
:
INHS 31382
,
12
unsexed
26.7-34.7 mm
SL,
río Guarico
, Barbacoas.
Río Guaviare
basin
,
COLOMBIA
,
META
:
ICNMHN 2956
,
9
(
1 male
27.3 mm
SL, 8 unsexed
21.1-35.9 mm
SL),
La Macarena
, alto raudal,
río Santo Domingo
.
SU 50346
,
1
(unsexed
34.5 mm
SL),
Colombia
,
río Guaviare
basin, vicinity of
Los Micos
, north end of
Cordillera Macarena
,
03°20’N
73°56’W
.
USNM 181359
,
1
unsexed
20.5 mm
SL, llanos,
río Guaviare.
Waini River Basin
- coastal drainage, GUYANA
:
ROM
67867,
5
(unsexed
28.1-31.5 mm
SL),
Barama River
,
Chinese Landing
at base camp,
73°10’N
59°33’W
.
ROM
67868,
11
(
5 males
25.2-28.3 mm
SL, 6 unsexed
26.2-30.1 mm
SL),
Barama River
,
Chinese Landing
,
1.5 km
upstream from store,
72°90’N
59°34’W
.
ROM
67869,
1
unsexed 29.0 mm SL
,
same locality as ROM 67867.
ROM
67872,
20
(
8 males
25.4-28.2 mm
SL, 12 unsexed 19.0-
31.3 mm
SL),
Waini River
at
Kwabanna
next to float plane ramp,
73°40’N
59°09’W
.
Rio Amazonas
basin,
BRAZIL
, AMAZONAS:
INPA 20980
,
1
(male
29.3 mm
SL),
rio Toototobi
, affluent of
upper rio Demini
,
rio Negro
drainage, indigenous camp
.
Diagnosis.
A remarkably long anal-fin base (26.0-33.5% SL) distinguishes
O. pulchra
from most other
Odontostilbe
species,
e.g.
from
O. fugitiva
(23.5-29.4% SL) (
Fig. 2
) the species nearest in distribution (Amazon basin). Only
O. nareuda
from the rio Madeira basin has a similarly long anal-fin base length (31.3-32.8% SL), but differs from
O. pulchra
in number of anal-fin rays (24-26
vs
17-24, usually
19-22 in
O. pulchra
). Furthermore, mature males of
O. pulchra
differ from
O. fugitiva
,
O. ecuadorensis
,
O. dierythrura
,
O. parecis
,
O. paraguayensis
, and
O. microcephala
, and the two new species from the rio Orinoco,
O. splendida
, and
O. pao
, by the presence of hooks on the 1
st
to 22
nd
anal-fin branched rays of males, practically on all branched anal-fin rays (
vs
1
st
to 9
th
, mostly 6
th-
7
th
, anal-fin branched rays of males with hooks); the anal-fin’s distal border slightly concave to almost straight in mature males (
vs
, distal border concave); the longer pectoral fin passing a vertical through pelvic-fin origin (
vs
shorter pectoral fin reaching but not trespassing to vertical through pelvic-fin origin,
e.g. vs
O. fugitiva
in
Fig. 3
), almost absence of elongation of the 2
nd
unbranched dorsal-fin ray (
vs
noticeably elongate 2
nd
unbranched dorsal-fin ray). Additionally, the longer upper jaw in males, females and unsexed specimens differ
O. pulchra
(26.8-32.5% HL) from
O. fugitiva
(23.4-30.0% HL) (
Fig. 4
). Among other characters formerly cited, snout length in males distinghishes
O. pulchra
(18.0-26.0% HL, mean 21.8% HL) from the sympatric
O. splendida
(24.1-26.9% HL, mean 25.2% HL), and
O. pao
(26.7-30.6, mean 28.6% HL) (
Fig. 5
).
Description.
Morphometric data given in
Table 1
. Largest male
32.7 mm
SL, largest female
36.9 mm
SL. Body elongate and compressed. Greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Snout short, more blunt in males. Head profile gently convex to straight from snout to posterior tip of supraoccipital bone. Predorsal profile slightly convex between posterior tip of supraoccipital bone and dorsal-fin origin, then straight from dorsal-fin origin to caudal peduncle. Ventral profile convex from mouth to anal-fin origin. Anal-fin base straight. Caudal peduncle slightly longer than deep.
Head relatively small. Posterior margin of opercle sinusoidal with upper portion concave and lower portion convex. Mouth terminal. Maxilla obliquely positioned ending at vertical through anterior border of eye, and practically at horizontal through inferior border of eye. Premaxillary teeth 5, bearing 7- 10 cusps; central cusp longest (
Fig. 6
). Maxilla with 2-3 (mainly 2) teeth bearing 6-10 cusps, cusp number decreasing to posterior tip of maxilla. Dentary teeth 7-9 bearing 1-7 cusps, gradually decreasing in size; first 5-6 teeth large with 5-7 cusps, 1 medium-sized tooth with 5-6 cusps and posterior teeth very small decreasing from 5 cusps to conical. Smaller cusps of large dentary teeth overlap cusps of adjacent tooth or not.
Dorsal-fin rays
ii,9
(117). Dorsal-fin origin slightly behind mid length of body, and slightly posterior to pelvic-fin origin. Second unbranched dorsal-fin ray and 1
st-
2
nd
branched dorsal-fin rays longest.Anal-fin rays
iv
(5),
v
(103) or vi(9), 17(1), 18(1),
19
(10),
20
(32), 21(46), 22(21), 23(4), or 24(2). Anal-fin distal border usually concave, slightly concave to almost straight in mature males. Pectoral-fin rays
i
(117), 10(43), 11(60), or
12
(14). Distal tip of pectoral fin slightly pointed, 1
st
unbranched pectoral-fin ray and 1
st-
3
rd
branched pectoral-fin rays longer, reaching posterior to vertical through pelvic-fin origin in males. Pelvic-fin rays
i
(117), 6(2), 6i(2),
7
(112), or 7i(1). Unbranched pelvic-fin ray slightly elongate, reaching to or slight posterior to anal-fin origin in males. Epithelium from external border of unbranched pectoral-fin ray and unbranched pelvic-fin ray thickened in males. Principal caudal-fin rays 16(1), 18(1),
19
(112), or 20(2). Procurrent caudal fin rays: dorsal
10
(12),
11
(36), 12(51), 13(16), or 14(1), ventral 8(11),
9
(52), 10(43), or 11(8). Some dorsal and ventral procurrent caudalfin rays laterally expanded or bifurcated. Caudal-fin ray flaps ventrally on 4
th-
7
th
rays of upper lobe, dorsally on 13
th-
16
th
(most 13
th-
15
th
) rays of lower lobe. Adipose-fin at vertical through last anal-fin ray insertion.
Males with acute well-developed retrorse hooks on medial margin of pelvic-fin rays and posterior margin of anal-fin rays. One to three paired and unpaired hooks per segment of lepidotrichia at distal half-length of last unbranched anal-fin ray and 1
st
to 22
th
branched anal-fin rays. One to three unpaired and long hooks per segment of lepidotrichia on 1
st
unbranched pelvic-fin rays (
3 specimens
) on midlength portion, and on 1
st-
7
th
branched pelvic-fin rays, on midlenght portion through distal tip of fin ray. One or two unpaired hooks per segment of lepidotrichia on lateral or anterior bor- der of branches in a few to several pelvic- and anal-fin rays.
Scales cycloid: lateral line complete
33
(6),
34
(51), 35(28), 36(5), or 37(1); predorsal row 9(3),
10
(84), 11(25), or 12(2); scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin
5
(49), or 6(64); scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin
3
(14), or
4
(102). Scale rows around peduncle
14
(102). Triangular modified scale on pelvic-fin base extends posteriorly covering 2 scales. Scales on anal-fin base 6 or 7.
Cleared and stained specimens (12), x-rays (18): supraneurals 4(18), 5(2); precaudal vertebrae, including Weberian apparatus, 14(1), 15(26), or 16(3); caudal vertebrae 17(9), 18(17), or 19(4); gill rakers (8 c&s), upper 6(3), or 7(5), lower 11(7), or 12(1) (2-3 on hypobranchial). Alcohol specimens (64): gill rakers, upper 5(4),
6
(48), or 7(12), lower 10(4),
11
(45), or
12
(15). Upper gill rakers with 1-4 denticles along anterolateral border, and 1-2 similar denticles on posterolateral border; lower gill rakers with 1-6 denticles on anterolateral bor- der, and none or 1 on posterolateral surface; and posteriormost lower gill raker with none to 2 denticles on posterolateral bor- der, and none to 3 denticles on anterolateral border (
Fig. 7
). Denticulation mainly on basal portion of gill rakers.
Fig. 4.
Upper jaw length as a function of head length for males, females and unsexed specimens of
Odontostilbe pulchra
, against
O. fugitiva
.
Fig. 2.
Anal-fin base length as a function of standard length for males of
Odontostilbe pulchra
, against
O. fugitiva
.
Fig. 3.
Pectoral-fin length as a function of standard length for males of
Odontostilbe pulchra
, against
O. fugitiva
.
Fig. 5.
Snout length as a function of head length for males of
Odontostilbe pulchra
, against
O. splendida
, and
O. pao
.
Color in alcohol.
General ground body color pale beige, pale orange, or brownish in
syntypes
. Dorsum with small dark chromatophores from head to caudal peduncle, chromatophores more concentrate on scales border. Scattered dark chromatophores on scales on pseudotympanum area, extending over lateral line. Dark chromatophores along all dorsal-fin rays, ex- cept last branched fin ray only pigmented near fin base; 1
st
and 2
nd
unbranched dorsal-fin rays strongly pigmented.All anal-fin rays with chromatophores, more concentrated on distal halflength, last unbranched fin ray and 1
st
branched fin ray less pigmented. All pectoral-fin rays with dark chromatophores, gradually fading to posterior branched rays, 1
st
unbranched pectoral-fin ray more pigmented. Pelvic fin clear or with some scattered chromatophores (two specimens). Caudal fin almost entirely covered with diffuse dark chromatophores, except for a light area near caudal-fin spot. Rounded black caudal spot, reaching upper border of caudal peduncle.
Black chromatophores on snout, upper and lower lips, anteriormost portion of maxilla, and anteriormost portion of dentary.Abundant dark chromatophores on fontanel, frontals and parietals, deep-lying chromatophores over brain membrane below frontals and parietals. Body with faint dark and silver midlateral stripe, along middle longitudinal body axis, beginning posterior to pseudotympanum, above lateral line, and reaching caudal spot. Guanine on eye iris, opercle, isthmus, and circumorbital series. Below lateral line, belly faint practically without pigmentation, chromatophores just above anal-fin base forming about 10 chevron shaped markings.
Ground body coloration of
syntypes
dark brown, faded chromatophores forming caudal-fin spot and the mentioned silvery longitudinal stripe along body.
Color in life.
Notes of UMMZ 189000: orange-red in anal, dorsal and caudal fins; center of caudal fin colorless.
Regan (1906)
described: “olivaceous; sides silvery or a silvery longitudinal stripe from operculum to base of caudal; an indistinct dark humeral spot; a blackish spot at the base of caudal, posteriorly ending in a point and margined with yellow above and below; dorsal and anal pink.”
Sexual dimorphism.
As mentioned males have hooks on anal- and pelvic-fin rays. There is no elongation of the second unbranched dorsal-fin ray, but a slight elongation of the unbranched pelvic-fin ray, and the anal-fin distal border is less concave than in females (
Fig. 1
). The pectoral-fin and the distance from snout to dorsal-fin origin are longer in males than in females (
Figs. 8-9
). The snout is usually more developed in males (
Fig. 10
). A gill gland is present on the first gill arch of mature males, including about 8 to 11 anterior branchial filaments (
Fig. 7
).
Remarks on the type material.
Poecilurichthys pulcher
was described by the American naturalist Theodore Gill in the year he traveled to the West Indian Islands. He departed in January, 1858 (
Dahl, 1916
), and resided in
Trinidad
for several months “through portions of the spring and summer” (
Gill, 1858
). The description of
P. pulcher
did not refer to any catalog number, but
Gill (1858: 371)
remarked: “specimens of most of the species which are being described have been deposited in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and in the private cabinets of Messrs. Stewart and Brevoort.” Therefore, not all type specimens would have been deposited at moving it from
Poecilurichthys
Gill
to
Chirodon
Girard. Regarding
C.
(
O.
)
pulcher
specimens examined for his study, Lütken explained that they were from
Trinidad
(1875: 220- 221): “From the 11 species of this family –
Characinidae
- from
Trinidad
that Prof. Gill carried home, the Museum has obtained about seven through the Judicial Counselor Mr. Riise, and further one that Mr. Gill overlooked: when all of these have been unknown by Günther; and because of insufficient descriptions he was unable to arrange Tetragonopterins in their systematic place, here these species are the object for some remarks or partly for complete descriptions” [our translation]. Coincidentally, Prof. Gill is the American naturalist that described the species in 1858, and Mr. Riise the man honored in the description of
Corynopoma riisei
Gill, 1858
(
Gill, 1858: 427
)
: “Mr. A. H. Riise of the Danish Island of St. Thomas, the gentleman to whom this species has been dedicated, is well known as one of the most active zoologists of the West Indies, and has greatly contributed to our knowledge…, by his contributions to Dr. Louis Pfeiffer, and to Dr. A. Lütken” [our translation]. Further detailing Mr. Riise’s contribution to the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen (ZMUC),
Lütken (1875: 223)
wrote under diagnosis of
Corynopoma
Gill
: “In this small collection of fishes from
Trinidad
, which Prof. Gill gave to Mr. Riise at that time and whom again gave it to the Museum,…” [our translation], in a foot note, Lütken Smithsonian. The Smithsonian catalog of type specimens of
Characiformes (Vari & Howe, 1991)
did not mention the type material of
P. pulcher
Gill, 1858
, though referred to the
syntypes
of
Poecilurichthys brevoortii
Gill, 1858
, which are the unique type material found at Smithsonian among other new species of characins described by Gill in that year.
Fig. 6.
Dentition of
Odontostilbe pulchra
, INHS
40101, male 32.5 mm SL: left premaxilla (top), maxilla (middle), and dentary (bottom), lateral view. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM).
Fig. 8.
Pectoral-fin length as a function of standard length for males against females of
Odontostilbe pulchra
.
Fig. 7.
First gill arch of
Odontostilbe pulchra
: left side, lateral view, showing gill gland (top) of FMNH 84037, male 26.6 mm SL, in detail gill rakers on upper branchial branch (middle), and gill rakers on lower branchial branch (bottom) of MCP 38863, male 27.2 mm SL. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM).
Later in 1875, the Danish zoologist Christian F. Lütken redescribed
Chirodon
(
Odontostilbe
)
pulcher
from
Trinidad
, (1875: 222): “The Justice Counselor Mr. Riise donated to the Museum eigth species of Characins and four Siluroids from
Trinidad
” [our translation].
Fig. 9.
Snout-dorsal fin origin as a function of standard length for males against females of
Odontostilbe pulchra
.
Fig. 10.
Snout length as a function of head length for males against females of
Odontostilbe pulchra
.
Considering what is mentioned above,
Lütken’s (1875)
species redescriptions of the characins from
Trinidad
, which had been previously described by
Gill (1858)
, could have been based on
type
material or related material caught at the time Gill was in
Trinidad
.As Lütken worked at ZMUC from 1852 to 1899 (Alves & Pompeu, 2001), the
type
material of
Poecilurichthys pulcher
Gill
could have been donated to him through Riise and Gill. However, the
type
material of
P. pulcher
Gill
is not listed in the “Catalog of fish
types
of Zoological Museum of Copenhagen” (
Nielsen, 1974
), and not found in ZMUC (personal communication of Dr. Jörgen G. Nielsen, ZMUC curator).
During the course of this study, two specimens of
O. pulchra
obtained on loan from the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris (MNHN), have been proven to be the
Lütken (1875)
specimens. The two fishes were donated to MNHN from ZMUC with the following information: “Museum of Copenhague (Reinhardt and Lütken) 1876. Provenance:
Trinidad
” (Patrice Pruvost, MNHN, personal communication). In
Lütken’s (1875)
redescription,
C.
(
O.
)
pulcher
was redescribed probably on the basis of two specimens as indicated by lateral line, dorsal-fin and anal-fin ray counts in p. 238: “…33-34 scales along the entire lateral line,… D: 10.11 (2.8-9); …A: 23-25 (3-4 + 20-21)” [our translation]. These two specimens, MNHN 0000-9593, examined herein match these counts of
C. pulchra
by
Lütken (1875)
and other characters: a- each dentary with 7 teeth; b- 5 transversal scale series above lateral line; c- 33-34 lateral line scales; d- dorsal fin 10.11, including 1 or 2 unbranched dorsal-fin rays plus 9 branched dorsal-fin rays; e- pectoral fin 12, not including the 1
st
unbranched fin ray, f- ventral fin 8, including the 1
st
unbranched pelvic-fin ray; and g- anal fin 23-25 (3-4 +20-21), 4 unbranched fin rays plus 20 unbranched fin rays. The external morphology and color descriptions of Lütken’s specimens fit the two MNHN specimens, for example: “Pectoral fins reach to pelvic fins,...”, or “The white lateral band and the dark shoulder and caudal spots are generally enough distinct; however the spots of the shoulder may be lacking” [our translations]. The white lateral band is actually silver, and remains in the two specimens (
Fig. 1
). The “shoulder spot” is the pseudotympanum. Therefore, MNHN 0000-9593 specimens match those examined by
Lütken (1875)
.
After
Lütken’s 1875
redescription of
C.
(
O.
)
pulcher
, there were no more citations found refering to further examinations of Gill’s type material.
Britski (2001)
stated that there is a lower number of type specimens in the Museum of Zoology of Copenhagen than the number of species described in another Lütken’s study about fishes of the Rio das Velhas, and suggested that part of the type material was lost or donated to different museums, as is the case of the
syntypes
of
Leporinus reinhardti
Lütken, 1875
and
L. taeniatus
Lütken, 1875
currently deposited at MNHN.
Based
on the evidences presented above, mainly the donation of the characins from
Trinidad
by
Gill
to
Riise
, and then to
Lütken
, the two specimens of
MNHN
0000-9593 are herein recognized as the
syntypes
of
Odontostilbe pulchra
.
Gill’s (1858)
description of that species seems to be based on one specimen, and matches dorsal-fin, anal-fin and pelvic-fin ray counts of one specimen of
MNHN
0000-9593, p. 419: “D. 10. A. 22…
V
.8.”. Probably unbranched and branched fin rays were jointly counted by Gill, and the anal-fin ray count is 20 branched anal-fin rays. Despite of that indication for the existence of an
holotype
, we prefer to consider the two as
syntypes
because they were collected together, and remained in the same jar after Lütken’s examination
.
The following incorrect information was found on the label of the two
syntypes
MNHN 0000-9593: a- Area:
Uruguay
, Locality:
Trinidad
; b- Collectors: Reinhardt, Lütken, c- Date: 1976. These data were corrected to: a- Area: none information, Locality: western portion of
Trinidad
; b- Collectors: unknown; c- Date of determination: 1876 by Johannes T. Reinhardt and Christian F. Lütken; d- Date of collection: 1858. This date of collection is based on the biography of Gill by
Dahl (1916)
, in which he confirmed that the visit to
Trinidad
occurred in 1858 between January and August (p315): “Gill sailed in January, 1858...He went to Washington in
August 1858
...”. Notes supporting corrections: (1) the city
Trinidad
in
Uruguay
is localized on the margin of río La Plata basin, where there are no cheirodontines with lateral line complete with 34-35 scales, number of ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays 8-11, plus dentary teeth with seven cusps (differing of
Heterocheirodon
spp.,
Cheirodon
spp., and
Holoshesthes pequira
, the cheirodontines present in La Plata basin); (2) Lütken examined the
syntypes
, probably also Reinhardt as he worked with Lütken, but there is no evidence that they had been collecting in
Trinidad
,
Uruguay
in 1876; (3) additional information from MNHN files (through Patrice Pruvost personal communication) confirming origin of the material from ZMUC,
Denmark
.
The
syntypes
are somewhat damaged with broken fins (
Fig. 1
, top). Specimen
28.7 m
SL lacks most premaxillary and maxillary teeth, but the other female
30.8 mm
SL has entire dentition preserved on premaxilla and maxila, and some dentary teeth. This female
30.8 mm
SL has the body bent, making measurements difficult. Scales are relatively well-preserved in both specimens.
Table 1.
Morphometrics of
Odontostilbe pulchra
(syntypes MNHN 0000-9593) (Trinidad drainages, INHS 40081, INHS 40101, ROM 41069, ROM 44764, USNM 290410; río Orinoco basin, ANSP 139450, ANSP 139579, ANSP 139472, MCP 14975, MCP 38863; rio Amazonas basin, INPA 20980).
Females |
Males |
Females |
Unsexed |
Syntypes |
n |
Low |
High |
Mean |
n |
Low |
High |
Mean |
n |
Low |
High |
Mean |
Standard length (mm) |
28.7 |
31.2 |
52 |
21.7 |
32.7 |
27.3 |
29 |
25.7 |
36.9 |
31.6 |
32 |
23.1 |
37.2 |
28.5 |
Percents of standard length |
Head length |
26.1 |
25.0 |
52 |
24.2 |
28.9 |
25.9 |
29 |
23.8 |
27.8 |
25.2 |
32 |
22.9 |
26.8 |
25.3 |
Snout-anal fin origin |
62.7 |
64.1 |
52 |
58.6 |
64.0 |
61.9 |
29 |
61.7 |
67.8 |
65.0 |
32 |
57.9 |
67.4 |
63.8 |
Snout-dorsal fin origin |
53.3 |
52.9 |
52 |
47.3 |
52.1 |
50.0 |
29 |
50.0 |
54.9 |
52.3 |
32 |
46.9 |
54.5 |
51.4 |
Snout-pelvic fin origin |
44.6 |
43.6 |
52 |
42.3 |
47.9 |
44.8 |
29 |
44.6 |
49.6 |
47.1 |
32 |
41.8 |
50.2 |
46.0 |
Dorsal-fin base |
13.9 |
15.4 |
52 |
12.4 |
16.5 |
14.6 |
29 |
13.2 |
15.6 |
14.2 |
32 |
13.0 |
15.9 |
14.5 |
Anal-fin base |
28.6 |
29.5 |
52 |
26.0 |
31.4 |
28.8 |
29 |
26.3 |
30.7 |
28.1 |
32 |
26.0 |
33.5 |
28.4 |
Caudal peduncle length |
12.2 |
14.4 |
52 |
12.5 |
16.0 |
13.8 |
29 |
11.4 |
14.4 |
13.0 |
32 |
10.0 |
14.3 |
12.8 |
Caudal peduncle depth |
11.8 |
13.5 |
52 |
10.2 |
12.9 |
11.6 |
29 |
10.5 |
12.5 |
11.6 |
32 |
9.8 |
12.4 |
11.5 |
Depth at dorsal-fin origin |
37.3 |
41.3 |
52 |
28.0 |
35.9 |
32.7 |
29 |
30.7 |
41.8 |
37.4 |
32 |
29.6 |
41.3 |
34.7 |
Dorsal-fin length |
33.7 |
47 |
28.6 |
37.5 |
32.1 |
29 |
28.6 |
33.1 |
30.9 |
29 |
27.4 |
33.4 |
31.6 |
Pelvic-fin length |
16.7 |
18.3 |
51 |
16.8 |
26.1 |
20.4 |
29 |
16.0 |
19.3 |
17.8 |
32 |
16.1 |
19.9 |
18.0 |
Pectoral-fin length |
23.4 |
52 |
21.3 |
26.4 |
24.2 |
29 |
20.5 |
23.4 |
21.7 |
32 |
18.8 |
23.9 |
21.9 |
Snout-pectoral-fin origin |
25.8 |
23.7 |
52 |
23.5 |
28.7 |
25.8 |
29 |
23.0 |
27.8 |
25.1 |
32 |
23.3 |
27.0 |
25.4 |
Percents of head length |
Snout length |
17.3 |
19.2 |
52 |
18.0 |
26.0 |
21.8 |
28 |
18.9 |
23.1 |
20.6 |
32 |
18.2 |
23.1 |
20.8 |
Upper jaw length |
28.0 |
28.2 |
52 |
27.1 |
31.8 |
29.1 |
29 |
27.0 |
32.1 |
29.2 |
32 |
26.8 |
32.5 |
29.6 |
Horizontal eye diameter |
38.7 |
41.0 |
52 |
34.8 |
41.9 |
38.2 |
29 |
34.5 |
41.0 |
37.6 |
32 |
36.6 |
40.9 |
39.1 |
Least interorbital width |
29.3 |
33.3 |
52 |
27.9 |
35.0 |
31.9 |
29 |
28.4 |
34.2 |
31.4 |
32 |
28.4 |
34.2 |
31.3 |
Distribution.
Odontostilbe pulchra
occurs on the Island of
Trinidad
, being registered to the western drainages of the Caroni, Bejucal and O’Meara river drainages, and to the eastern Quare river, Cunapo basin (
Fig. 11
). An uncertain drainage that is probably on the southeast of
Trinidad
is referred in the geographical coordinates of CAS 70933, not plotted in the map. It is widespread in río Orinoco basin, smaller coastal drainages of
Venezuela
, Lake Valencia system, and the río
Essequibo
basin (
Fig. 11
).
Information on the distribution of
Odontostilbe pulchra
based on previous studies is doubtful, since it appears that several undescribed cheirodontine species of the genera
Odontostilbe
,
Serrapinnus
and even
Holoshesthes
, from northern South America have been identified as
O. pulchra
. The species was described by
Price (1955)
as “found in Caroni, Caparo and northern Oropouche drainages only and is known to occur in
Venezuela
as well”.
Taphorn (1992)
provides a map with distribution of “
Cheirodon pulcher
” for the río
Apure
basin, but the records are most probably of an undescribed species of
Serrapinnus
as he mentioned the lateral line being incomplete in the diagnosis of “
C. pulcher
” (complete in
O. pulchra
). “
C. pulcher
” (
Gill, 1858
)
is cited in the list of fishes from
Venezuela
(Taphorn
et. al
., 1997).
Lasso
et al.
(2003)
cited
C. pulcher
to the Orinoco, Cuyuní, Gulf of Paria, Caribbean, and Lake Valencia; all drainages confirmed by examined material in the present study.
Lasso
et al.
(2004)
recorded
C. pulcher
in the río Orinoco basin for the following drainages: upper Orinoco, Ventuari, Atabapo, Meta, Cinaruco, Suarape, Capanaparo, Arauca,
Apure
, Cuchiviero, Zuata, Caura, Pao, Caris, Caroní, Morichal Largo, Delta, and the own Orinoco (most drainages not listed in the material examined herein).
Fig. 11.
Distribution of
Odontostilbe pulchra
. Circles (material examined, symbols can represent more than one lot, and more than one locality). In detail Trinidad map, modified from American Geographical Society of New York (1957).
Odontostilbe pulchra
is not restricted to the río Orinoco basin and the Island of
Trinidad
. There is a spot occurrence in the upper rio Demini, rio Negro, Amazonas basin, though represented by an unique mature male (
Fig. 11
). This is a locality near southern headwaters of the río Orinoco basin, indicating that the species is present in the Orinoco-Amazon basin boundaries.
Lasso
et al.
(1990)
discussed the biogeographic history and faunistic similarity between upper río Caroni and the neighbouring rio Branco, rio Negro, mentioning possible connection between these water systems, which could be previous to the uplifting of Sierra de Pacaraima, or through divergent Gran Sabana paleoflowings. The rio Demini, where
O. pulchra
is recorded, runs parallel to rio Branco, thus the occurrence of the typical species of Orinoco as
O. pulchra
might be an evidence of the common biogeographical history for the Orinoco-Amazon basin in this region. The proximate historical relationship between Orinoco and northern Amazon ichthyofauna is hypothesized to date before the Orinoco-Amazonas divide in the Late Miocene by the Vaupes Arch to
Guyana
Shield on the west to the Serrania de La Macarena (
Lundberg
et al
., 1998
). However, there is the alternate hypothesis that the Rupununi inundated savannah is a modern dispersal route to the fishfaunas from upper rio Negro and the rio
Essequibo
(Hubert & Renno, 2006).
Ecological notes.
As stated above, information of
O. pulchra
based on previous studies is doubtful, since it appears that several undescribed cheirodontine species have been identified as
O. pulchra
. In
Trinidad
, it is described as “found in drains and ravines in the high woods, Cumuto” (
Regan, 1906
). In
Venezuela
,
Winemiller (1989)
referred to “
O. pulcher
” as the numerically dominant species in the estero during wet season caño Maraca, a swamp-creek in the floodplain of the western Venezuelan llanos, Apure-Orinoco drainage. “
O. pulcher
” was found in diets of
Charax gibbosus
,
Hoplias malabaricus
,
Pygocentrus notatus
,
Caquetaia kraussii
, and
Gymnotus carapo
, being the main food item for
C. gibbosus
between
50-60 mm
(
Winemiller, 1989
). Fish census at the same caño Maraca, totalled 3182 specimens of “
O. pulcher
”, the most numerous fish in the sampled fishfauna (Winemiller & Pianka, 1990).
Taphorn (1992)
refers to the species
Cheirodon pulcher
as “ubiquitous in the piedmont and llanos”, “abundant” in
Apure
River Basin, “slow moving streams and especially in lowland lentic systems”. In a table,
Taphorn (1992: 500)
classified
C. pulcher
as r1 strategist, omnivorous, occurring in white, clear and blackwaters, abundant, present in both mountains and llanos. R1 strategists are “those species with low juvenile and adult survivorship, low fecundity per reproductive bout, but many bouts per season, a short generation time, and population densities that fluctuate greatly between the wet and dry seasons” (
Taphorn, 1992
). However, the “
C. pulcher
” studied by
Taphorn (1992)
, as commented before probably is an undescribed species of
Serrapinnus
, as he mention the incomplete lateral line in “
C.
pulcher
” diagnosis (complete in
O. pulchra
). Despite of the difficulties in the identification of the species, probably the species has been analysed in many ecological studies as that of
Lasso (1992)
for the lower Suapure ichthyofauna, listing
O. pulcher
as an important fish in ornamental trade of the Los Pijiguaos region in
Venezuela
,
Flecker (1992)
using
C. pulcher
, a dominant “tetra” in río Las Marias in experiments about trophic guilds, or
Jepsen (1997)
listing “
Chierodon
sp. 1 and sp. 2” among the most common fish species taken from sand bank habitats in the Cinaruco River. Recently,
Hoeinghaus
et al.
(2004)
reinforces the high abundance of “
C. pulcher
” in the llanos foodplain of the río
Portuguesa
, remarking it is the most frequently collected species jointly with
Roeboides dayi
.