Phalloceros leticiae, Lucinda, 2008

Lucinda, Paulo Henrique Franco, 2008, Systematics and biogeography of the genus Phalloceros Eigenmann, 1907 (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae: Poeciliinae), with the description of twenty-one new species, Neotropical Ichthyology 6 (2), pp. 113-158 : 117-118

Phalloceros leticiae , new species

Figs. 5 , 6

Phalloceros sp. n. D Lucinda & Reis, 2005.

Holotype. MCP 30551, rio Araguaia drainage, approximately 14 o 54’S 51 o 04’W, Aruanã, Goiás. Brazil. Apr 1983, R. La Corte.

Paratypes. BRAZIL. Goiás. MCP 30550, 2, and USNM 330339, 5/2*, collected with the holotype.

Diagnosis. Phalloceros leticiae can be distinguished from its congeners by (1) the presence of teeth on fourth ceratobranchial [27-0]; and (2) membranous tip anterior to R4 and R5 absent [111-0]. Additionally Phalloceros leticiae can be distinguished from its congeners, except P. mikrommatos and P. ocellatus , by the possession of a roundish to rounded and well-defined ocellated lateral spot ( Fig. 5 ) [134-1] (rarely absent). Phalloceros leticiae can be distinguished from P. ocellatus by the postorbital length in females (39.2-42.2 % SL vs. 24.8-39.3 % SL, respectively) and in males (36.7-42.3 % SL vs. 29.3-38.2 % SL, respectively). Phalloceros leticiae can be distinguished from P. mikrommatos by the number of anal-fin rays in females (10 vs. 11, respectively).

Description. Morphometric data in Tables 1 and 2 . Range of SL: 18.4-21.4 mm (females), 15.5-16.6 mm (males). Dorsal-fin rays: 7 [1], 8* [6]. Branched pectoral-fin rays: 6* [6]. Pelvic-fin rays: 5* [4] (males), 5 [3] (females). Anal-fin rays of females: 10 [3]. Anal-fin rays of males: 9* [3]. Branched caudal-fin rays: 10 [4], 11* [4]. Predorsal scales: 14 [2], 15* [3]. Longitudinal series of scales: 28* [7]. Series of scales around caudal peduncle: 16* [8]. Transverse series of scales: 7* [8]. Serrae on R4p: 9* [1], 11 [2]. Epipleural ribs: 12 [1], 14 [1]. Pleural ribs: 14 [2]. Vertebrae: 31 [2]. Female urogenital papilla straight along midline, located along midventral line and between anus and base of first anal-fin ray. Hooks of gonopodial appendix absent ( Fig. 6 ).

Color in alcohol. Eye dark iridescent grey with greenish brown pupil. Ground color pale yellow. Upper two thirds of body and head densely covered with brown chromatophores. In some individuals these chromatophores more concentrated on longitudinal line region forming faint brown discontinuous band along flanks. Lower third of flanks pale yellow contrasting with upper, darker region. Border of scales and subjacent skin replete with brown chromatophores, more concentrated at short distance from scale border conferring reticulate pattern to body sides, mainly on upper half. Brown chromatophores scattered through whole body, more concentrated on dorsal portion, mainly on head, snout, opercle, and ventral surface of mandible. Ocellated lateral spot rounded or roundish encircled by light ring. Vertical bars along flanks inconspicuous or absent. Dorsal-fin membrane bearing faint band of brown chromatophores on distal border of dorsal fin. Faint band of chromatophores near dorsal-fin base. Pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins hyaline. Dark brown line along R3. Anal fin of females hyaline; few chromatophores scattered through first three rays but not forming defined patch of pigmentation.

Etymology. The specific epithet leticiae (n. f. gen. sg.) comes from Letícia. Phalloceros leticiae is named after my daughter Letícia M. Lucinda.

Distribution. Phalloceros leticiae is known from the upper rio Araguaia, main tributary to the rio Tocantins ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

Fig. 5. Phalloceros leticiae. (A) Holotype, male, 16.2 mm SL, MCP 30551, Aruanã, rio Araguaia drainage. Goiás. Brazil; (B) paratype, female, 20.8 mm SL, MCP 30550, collected with the holotype.

Fig. 6. Gonopodiumtip ofPhallocerosleticiae, MCP30551.R3, R4a, R4p, R5a, R5p indicate gonopodial rays.Scale bar 1 mm.

Fig. 7. Collection localities of Phalloceros leticiae (fivepointed star, 1), P. uai (eight-pointed star, 2), P. anisophallos (square, 3), P.reisi (triangle, 4),and P.spiloura (circle, 5). Some symbols represent more than one lot or locality. Numbers represent type localities. The inset is the range of the genus.