Charax leticiae Lucena, 1987

Menezes, Naércio A. & de Lucena, Carlos Alberto S., 2014, A taxonomic review of the species of Charax Scopoli, 1777 (Teleostei: Characidae: Characinae) with description of a new species from the rio Negro bearing superficial neuromasts on body scales, Amazon basin, Brazil, Neotropical Ichthyology 12 (2), pp. 193-228 : 207-209

Charax leticiae Lucena, 1987

Fig. 14

Charax leticiae Lucena, 1987: 140 (original description, type locality: Brazil, State of Pará, rio Tocantins, igarapé Urubu near Posto Trocará). -Oyakawa, 1996: 454-455 (listed in type catalog). - Lucena, 1989: 104 (in key to species). - Britski et al., 1999: 55, 2007: 75 (Pantanal de Mato Grosso, description). - Lucena & Menezes, 2003: 201 (maximum length; distribution). - Lopéz et al., 2003: 17 ( Argentina, listed). - Casciotta et al., 2003: 84 ( Laguna Iberiá, Argentina, listed). - Menni, 2004: 74 ( Argentina, listed).

Diagnosis. Charax leticiae belongs in the species group having an orbital diameter 30.1-38.4% of HL as opposed to C. caudimaculatus and C. notulatus that have orbital diameter 25-28.5% of HL ( Fig. 4 ). Charax leticiae can be distinguished from the other species of first group by having circumpeduncular scale rows (17-19) than C. apurensis and C. macrolepis (20-22), from C. michaeli by the number of scale rows from the dorsal-fin origin to the lateral line (16-17 vs. 18-20), from C. niger and C. gibbosus by the humeral spot distance 38-44 vs. 34.7-37.8% of SL ( Fig. 3 ), the number of transverse scale rows between the humeral spot and the supracleithrum 8-10 vs. 5-6 in C. niger and C. gibbosus . Charax leticiae differs from C. pauciradiatus in having more scale rows from the dorsal-fin origin to the lateral line (16-17 vs. 13- 14). Charax leticiae differs from C. hemigrammus , C. condei , and C. stenopterus by having the lateral line complete (vs. lateral line incomplete), from C. rupununi by the number of scales around the caudal peduncle (17-19 vs. 12) and from C. tectifer , C. metae , and C. delimai by having the anal-fin origin always anterior to the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin (vs. anal-fin origin on, or slightly posterior to, the vertical through the dorsal-fin origin) and ectopterygoid teeth absent (vs. ectopterygoid teeth present).

Description. Morphometrics of examined specimens presented in Table 7. Body elongate, moderately large (33.5- 106 mm SL), compressed and moderately deep; greatest body depth slightly in advance of dorsal-fin origin. Dorsal profile of head and body slightly convex on tip of snout, straight from posterior border of posterior nostril to vertical line through posterior border of pupil, slightly concave from that point to base of supraoccipital spine, strongly convex from that point to dorsal-fin origin, nearly straight along dorsal-fin base and from end of dorsal-fin base to caudal peduncle and slightly concave along caudal peduncle. Ventral profile of head and body convex from tip of lower jaw to anal-fin origin, nearly straight along anal-fin base and slightly concave from end of anal-fin base to beginning of procurrent rays. Snout pointed. Lower jaw included in upper jaw when mouth closed. Maxilla extending slightly beyond vertical through middle of pupil.

Dorsal-fin rays ii, 9 in all specimens, posterior most ray unbranched. Adipose fin present. Unbranched anal-fin rays iv or v, usually iv, branched rays 43-53, 48.5. Pectoral-fin rays i, 12-16, 14.2. Tips of longest pectoral-fin rays reaching slightly beyond middle of pelvic-fin length. Pelvic-fin rays i, 7. Tips of longest pelvic-fin rays reaching to vertical between bases of second to seventh branched anal-fin rays. Principal caudalfin ray count 10/ 9 in all specimens.

Lateral line complete; perforated scales 54-62, 57.4. Horizontal scale rows from dorsal-fin origin to lateral line 16- 17, 16.8. Horizontal scale rows from pelvic-fin origin to lateral line 9-11, 10.5. Horizontal scale rows from anal-fin origin to lateral line 12-14, 13.1. Predorsal scales 47-72, 55.6. Scale rows around caudal peduncle 17-19, 18. Scale row along anal-fin base, extending for about two thirds of fin base.

Premaxillary with one anterior canine-like tooth followed by set of smaller conical teeth and another canine-like tooth followed by one or two small conical teeth. Total number of premaxillary teeth 9-15, 12.5. Maxillary teeth conical, 50-79, 65.1; larger specimens generally with higher counts. Dentary with one canine-like tooth followed by 3-7, 4 conical teeth, another canine-like tooth and a posterior row of 21-37, 30.4 conical teeth.

Vertebrae 34 in one specimen. Gill-rakers on lower limb of first gill-arch 7-9, 7.8. Branchiostegal rays 4; 3 rays originating from anterior ceratohyal and 1 from posterior ceratohyal.

Color in alcohol. Body pale to light yellow, slightly darker dorsally. Scattered chromatophores sometimes disposed along miosepta of epaxial and hypaxial muscles forming Vshaped patterns. Irregularly shaped vertically elongate, dark humeral blotch region extending about 4-5 scales horizontally and 5 to 7 vertically. Dorsal regions of head, snout and tip of lower jaw darker; dark coloration extending to median portion of lower jaw, fifth and sixth infraorbitals, between second and third infraorbitals as subocular blotch, ventrally over anterior portion of preopercle and dorsal part of opercle. Triangular dark blotch on caudal base, posterior chromatophores less densely concentrated and extending over basal portions of median caudal-fin rays. Inconspicuous clear lateral stripe extending from above upper posterior part of opercle to caudal blotch. All fins hyaline with dark chromatophores disposed mainly on interradial membranes. Inconspicuous clear stripe slightly below anal-fin base across total expanse of fin. First and second unbranched rays of dorsal, and first unbranched rays of pectoral and pelvic fins darker than remaining rays.

Remarks. Data from specimens collected in tributaries of the rio Paranaíba (upper rio Paraná basin in central Brazil) are not included since there is evidence that in recent years fishes from the rio Araguaia basin, where Charax leticiae occurs have been released into tributaries of rio Paranaíba (Zawadzki et al. 2008).

No significant statistical differences in meristic and morphometric data were found through comparison of samples from the rios Tocantins/Araguaia and Paraguay basins.

Distribution. Charax leticiae is widely distributed in tributaries of the rios Tocantins, Araguaia, Paraguay, and Aripuanã basins, Brazil ( Fig. 7 ).

Specimens examined. Brazil, Goiás: LIRP 7490 , 3 , 87-93 mm SL and LIRP 6679 , 4 , 73-87.5 mm SL, município de Paranaiguara, rio Mateira, tributary of rio Paranaíba, 18°51’21"S 50°38’10"W; MZUSP 89382 , 19 , 72-106 mm SL, between Crixás and Nova Crixás, córrego da Taboca, tributary of rio Crixás-Mirim , 14°19’27"S 50°12’32"W; MZUSP 52236 , 1 , 52 mm SL, road between Sandolândia and rio Verde, pools on banks of rio Água Fria , tributary of rio Tocantins, 12°32’00"S 49°55’00"W; MZUSP 43406 , 1 , 33.5 mm SL, Tocantins , Ilha do Bananal, Parque Nacional do Araguaia, lagoa Buritirama , 10°31’00"S 50°15’00"W; Pará: MZUSP 105299 , 4 , 58-88 mm SL, Marabá, rio Tocantins , 5°40’07"S 50°18’04"W; Mato Grosso: MZUSP 36428 , 1 , 51 mm SL, Corumbá, Nhecolandia, Fazenda Nhumirim, Baía dos Búfalos, 19°42’S 56°08"W; MZUSP 20470 , 1 , 96 mm SL, Cuiabá, Coxipó da Ponte , rio Coxipó da Ponte , 15°38’26"S 56°03’12"W; MZUSP 19994 , 1, 100 mm SL , Ilha do Taiamã, rio Paraguay, not precisely located; MZUSP 44377 , 1 , 83 mm SL, Cáceres , rio Paraguay, 16°04’28"S 57°39’35"W; MZUSP 19236 , 1 , 80 mm SL, Poconé , rio Paraguay, 16°15’25"S 56°37’28"W; MZUSP 90188 , 2 , 74-78 mm SL, Cáceres, rio Sepotuba , tributary of rio Paraguay, 15°47’33"S 57°39’20"W; MZUSP 19806 , 1 , 91 mm SL, Campo do Jofre do rio Pixaim, Poconé, 16°14’S, 56°37’W; MZUSP 90271 , 1 , 72 mm SL, Cáceres , rio Sepotuba , tributary of rio Paraguay, 15°46’07"S 57°38’54"W; MZUSP 77276 , 2 , 63-66 mm SL, Panelas, Rio Roosevelt, above the water falls, approximately 9°17’47"S 60°43’15"W; Mato Grosso do Sul: MZUSP 59604 , 1 , 45 mm SL, Corumbá , Fazenda Xaraés , rio Vermelho , 18°02’48"S 52°40’44"W; MZUSP 36431 , 1 , 44 mm SL, Corumbá , Nhecolandia , Fazenda Nhumirim , 19°42’10"S 56°08’00"W; MZUSP 59799 , 1 , 45 mm SL, Aquidauana , bay near Fazenda Rio Negro , 20°00’16"S 55°33’50"W; MZUSP 19817 , 1 , 42 mm SL, Poconé , rio Pixaim , approximately 14°44’S 60°33’W; MZUSP 48293 , 2 , 50-53 mm SL, Fazenda Santo Antônio (Baía de Seda); MZUSP 59511 , 20 , 41-69 mm SL, Aquidauana , Fazenda Taboco , rio Taboco , 20°04’38"S 55°38’08"W; MZUSP 19896 , 5 78-94 mm SL, município de Corumbá, rio Miranda , 17°55’06"S 56°52’43"W; MZUSP 59772 , 2 , 72-83 mm SL, Corumbá , rio Abobral , 19°27’37"S 57°01’54"W; MCP 44556, 3 , 70-87 mm SL, Posto da Mata , on road BR-158 between Posto da Mata and Alô Brasil, 11°53’58"S 51°39’26"W; MCP 10735, 2 , 78-80 mm SL), sanga about 20 km from Poconé, on road Transpantaneira, approximately 16°15’S 56°37’W. UNT 10279, 2 , 76-95 mm SL, rio Alegre , Quirinópolis, 18º 46‘31"S 50º36‘31"W. Rio Grande do Sul: MCP 18389, 2 , 71-116 mm SL, pond along rio Uruguai, on praia da Formosa, São Marcos; Minas Gerais: LIRP 6944 , 1 , 88 mm SL, Minas Gerais, município de Itaituba, rio Tijuco , tributary of rio Paranaíba , 18°48’18"S 49°51’14"W; LIRP 6603 , 3 , 74-82 mm SL, município de Itaituba, rio Tijuco , tributary of rio Paranaíba , 16°48’18"S 49°51’41"W. Tocantins: UNT 7041 , 1 , 56 mm SL, córrego Sabino (Alvorada farm), rio da Conceição, 11º28‘13"S 46º55‘17"W; UNT 409 , 4 , 76-81 mm SL, Rio Palmeiras , drenagem do rio Paranã .

Figures

Fig. 14. Charax leticiae, MZUSP 89382, female, 98 mm SL, Brazil, Goiás, between Crixás and Nova Crixás, córrego da Taboca, tributary of rio Crixás-Mirim.

Fig. 4. Orbital diameter as a function of head length for species of Charax.

Fig. 3. Humeral spot distance as a function of standard length for species of Charax.

Fig.7. Map of SouthAmerica showing the collecting sites of the Charax species, and the type locality of Charax delimai (purple circle). Charax apurensis - yellow square; C. caudimaculatus - white circle; C. condei - white square; C. gibbosus - purple triangle; C. hemigrammus - red star; C. leticiae - black circle;C. macrolepis-black triangle;C.metae-yellow triangle;C.michaeli - yellow circle;C.niger -blue triangle; C.notulatus - blue circle; C. pauciradiatus - red triangle; C. rupununi - red circle; C. stenopterus - green triangle; C. tectifer - green circle. Some symbols may represent more than one locality.