Cryptoheros altoflavus Allgayer, 2001

Juan J. Schmitter-Soto, 2007, A systematic revision of the genus Archocentrus (Perciformes: Cichlidae), with the description of two new genera and six new species., Zootaxa 1603, pp. 1-78 : 43-44

Cryptoheros altoflavus Allgayer, 2001

Figures 5, 13

Cryptoheros altoflavus Allgayer 2001: 16 (original description).

Archocentrus altoflavus , Kullander 2003: 616 ( new combination).

Holotype. MNHN 2001-1163 , 90 mm SL (Fig. 13), P. de Rham and J.-C. Nourissat, Apr. 22, 1998. Rio Canaveral , Panama.

Paratypes. MNHN 2001-1164 to 2001-1167 (6, 59-79 mm SL), 4 paratopotypes and 2 paratypes from Rio Cana , an affluent of Rio Canaveral .

Diagnosis. No unique autapomorphies. Breast, fins and throat yellowish (vs. greyish or strongly yellow in other species of Bussingius ); basal process on the largest first-arch gill-rakers; lower symphysial teeth bicuspidate, with a small lingual cusp (also in Cryptoheros septemfasciatus ); distally two rows of interradial scales on anal fin (also in Cr. nanoluteus ); spots on opercle, part of a rather indistinct longitudinal stripe.

Description. D. XVII -XVIII,9-10; A. VIII -IX,7-9. Gill rakers on lower part of first arch 6; gill rakers distally expanded, sometimes bifid. Scales strongly ctenoid. Predorsal scales modally 14; pored lateral-line scales (not counting scales overlapping between the two segments of the lateral line) modally 28; scales from lateral line to base of first dorsal-fin ray 2.5; circumpeduncular scales 17 (other meristic data appear in Table 3).

Largest specimen examined, 90 mm SL. The deepest-bodied species of subgenus Bussingius , depth 45- 56% of SL, mean 53% of SL; head length 31-36% of SL (this trait not diagnostic vs. Cr. nanoluteus , contra Allgayer 2001); orbital diameter 22-35% of head length (further morphometric data appear in Table 4). Head profile concave above orbits, steep, straight. Mouth terminal (contra Allgayer 2001, who found it “ légèrement rétrognathe ”). Teeth moderately embedded; strongly labiolingually compressed, sides concave, tip triangular, retrorse. Upper symphysial teeth, often one larger than the other; the smaller upper symphysial tooth not abruptly larger than adjacent tooth; lower symphysial teeth subequal to adjacent teeth. Lips not narrow medially; lower lip slightly tapering or not, squarish at corner.

Pectoral fins always reaching caudad beyond 2nd anal-fin spine; pelvic-fin filamentous rays always reaching beyond 4th and sometimes to 9th anal-fin spine. Filamentous rays of dorsal fin to distal quarter of caudal fin. Two pored scales continuing lateral line on caudal fin, subsidiary scales present. Interradial scale rows of dorsal and anal fins imbricated (i.e. with supplementary scales), up to 7 scales long.

Gut simple, with a secondary medial loop. Genital papilla tongue-shaped or rounded, notched, longer than wide, wider at base, pigmented on base, sides, and posterior (caudal) face.

No vertical bar on head, but lower half of opercle darker; opercular spot usually distinct, forming part of longitudinal stripe from opercle to pectoral-fin origin. Eyes greenish, greyish, or bluish. Bars on side of body diffuse; 1st bar V-shaped with coalescent arms, like an inverted triangle, inclined on head; 2nd and 3rd intensified medially, all intensified dorsally; 5th and 6th more marked; medial intensification of 3rd bar an oval spot. Bars not extending onto dorsal fin. Ocellus on dorsal fin of mature females starting on 6th or 7th spine, ending between 10th and 13th spines. Soft dorsal and anal fins immaculate; their bases darkened. About 9 rows of light spots on sides, smaller than scales; breast, fins and throat yellowish. Axil of pectoral fin somewhat dark, surrounded by a lighter ring; base of pectoral fin whitish. Caudal blotch more on peduncle than on fin, occasionally entirely on peduncle, across lateral line, saddled or diamond-shaped (always pointed ventrally), its edge diffuse.

Distribution. In addition to the type locality, also known from Río Cricamola at Konkintu, Panama, a new record that extends the range of the species westward (Fig. 5).

Remarks. Allgayer (2001) counted 15 abdominal + 15 caudal vertebrae, whereas I count 13+16 (also on the published radiograph, ibidem); the present redescription is also at variance with the original description with regard to other meristic data.

The collectors believed the species to be absent from the Río Cricamola “d’ après les Indiens.” The Cricamola specimens of Cr. altoflavus approach Cr. nanoluteus in some characters, notably in body depth and shape of caudal blotch.