Amatitlania siquia, Juan J. Schmitter-Soto, 2007

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 : 54-56

Amatitlania siquia , new species

Figures 17, 21

Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (part. et non Günther), Bussing 1987: 213 (misidentification).

Archocentrus nigrofasciatus (part. et non Günther), Bussing 1998: 346 (misidentification).

Holotype. UMMZ 245585 , 61 mm SL (Fig. 21), M. J. Allen, Aug. 10, 1932. A stream flowing out of the forest into Rio Siquia, 7 miles N of Rama , Atlantic Nicaragua.

Paratypes. ANSP 88241 (3), 67475 (4), 140692 (1), BMNH 1925.3.6.124-125 (2), FMNH 7733 (1), MHNG 2160.60 (1), UMMZ 145720 (2), 166474 (1), 196939 (1), 196948 (25), 196954 (7), 213938 (6).

Diagnosis. Unique autapomorphies (figs. 24e and 6d in Schmitter-Soto, in press): gut simple (S-shaped), but folded ventrorostrally, anal loop and medial loop not touching (vs. simple, not folded); peritoneum only rostrally pigmented (vs. not only rostrally pigmented). Further distinguished from all other Amatitlania as follows: caudal blotch about two-thirds on peduncle and one-third on fin (vs. completely on fin); posterior edge of mesethmoid straight-irregular (vs. rounded); scales from lateral line to base of first dorsal fin ray modally 1.5 (vs. modally 2 or more); caudal vertebrae modally 14 (vs. modally 13).

Description. D. XVII -XVIII,8-10; A. IX -X,7-8. Gill rakers bifid in larger specimens, sometimes serrated, or at least distally expanded, compressed. Scales from lateral line to base of first dorsal-fin ray always 1.5; circumpeduncular scales usually 15-17, modally 16; total vertebrae 26-27 (additional meristic data appear in Table 3).

Largest specimen examined, 79 mm SL. A deep-bodied Amatitlania , body depth 48-55% of SL, usually greater than 49% of SL (further morphometric data appear in Table 4). Head profile straight to convex. Teeth conical, pointed, slightly or not labiolingually compressed. Upper symphysial teeth abruptly larger than adjacent teeth. Upper lip medially narrow; upper angle of lower lip at corner much rounded, lower angle acute, tapering ventrad.

Pectoral fins always reaching caudad beyond 3rd, pelvic fins always beyond 5th anal-fin spine and often to 8th anal-fin spine. Filamentous rays of dorsal fin to distal third of caudal fin. Up to three pored scales continuing lateral line on caudal fin, isolated subsidiary scales on larger specimens. Dorsal- and anal-fin interradial scales arranged in one row, up to six scales long.

Gut length may reach 188% of SL. Genital papilla oval, but often medially constricted, peanut-shaped, longer than wide, with a long protuberance on tip; isolated melanophores on base and sides.

Suborbital streak present, at least in young; stripe from snout to eye usually well defined. Interorbital bands sometimes not so diffuse. Head bar more intense dorsally. Eyes bluish, greenish, greyish. Bars on side of body ventrally more obsolescent and coalescent than in other species; 4th bar I-shaped. Dots sometimes discernible on bases of soft dorsal and anal fins. Breast olive. Axil of pectoral fin with a dorsal dark spot; base of pectoral definitely white. Caudal blotch two-thirds on fin, more dorsal than ventral to lateral line, never to ventral edge, oval.

Distribution. Both coasts of Costa Rica (from tributaries to the Golfo de Nicoya on the Pacific coast and Río Parismina on the Atlantic) to Nicaragua (including the Great Lakes and the Mosquitian basins); also north to Atlantic Honduras ( Río Yeguaré) (Fig. 17).

Etymology. Siquia is the name of the river chosen as type locality. The name means “avocado” in the Miskito dialect Ulwa ( Salamanca 2002). A noun in apposition.