Gymnotus carapo australis New Subspecies

Figure 3 A, Tables 3 and 4

Holotype: MLP 11221 (1), 341 mm, Argentina, Misiones province, Río Iguazú basin, Arroyo Verde (25°40’15”S, 053°56’00.8”W).

Paratype: MLP 11222 (6), 262–321 mm, same locality as MLP 11221.

Non-Types: MLP 11223 (4), 216–272 mm, Arroyo Deseado Chico (25°47’19,7”S, 054°01’45.0”W), cuenca Río Iguazú, Misiones. Col.: J. Casciotta, et al. II/2002 . MLP 11223 (7), 110–330 mm, Arroyo Deseado Chico (25°47’19.7”S, 054°01’45.0”W), cuenca Río Iguazú, Misiones. Col.: J. Casciotta, et al. II/2002 . MLP 11225 (3), 221–318 mm, Arroyo Lobo (25°42’32”S, 054°05’36”W), cuenca Río Iguazú, Misiones. Col.: J. Casciotta, et al. II/ 2002 . MLP 11226 (3), 268–274 mm, Arroyo Tateto (25°47’12.8”S, 053°58’12.9”W), cuenca Río Iguazú, Misiones. Col.: J. Casciotta, et al. II/2002 . MCP 19552 (3), 145–336 mm. MCP 6059 (3), 173–355 mm.

Description: Specimens of G. carapo from the southern fauna overlap substantially in morphometric and meristic PC-space with specimens from other localities (Figures 4, 5, and 12). Gymnotus carapo australis is characterized by the following combination of statistically significant (p <0.01) traits when compared to the rest of the species as a whole (see Principal Components Analyses and t-tests): deep body (BD 67.0%–98.8% HL, mean 88.1% vs. 42.7%–106.6%, mean 83.6% in all other subspecies), wide head (HW 50.8%–66.8% HL, mean 61.6% vs. 49.1%–67.7%, mean 59.1% in all other subspecies), short pectoral fin length (P1 38%.8–48.0% HL, mean 43.5% vs. 29.0%–60.9%, mean 46.5% vs. in all other subspecies) and large anal-fin pterygiophore scales (APS 6– 7, mode 7 vs. 7–11, mode 9 in all other subspecies).

Distribution: Occurs in the southern humid Neotropics, including the greater La Plata (Paraná-Paraguay), Uruguay, and Jacuí basins (Figure 2 B).

Etymology: Subspecific epithet derived from the Latin “australis” meaning “of the South”.