Leporinus bleheri Géry, 1999

Boaretto, Mariana Pascoal, Ohara, Willian Massaharu, Souza-Shibatta, Lenice & Olivan Birindelli, José Luís, 2024, New banded Leporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Madeira River basin, Brazil, and redescription of L. bleheri, based on integrative taxonomy, Neotropical Ichthyology (e 240028) 22 (4) : -

Leporinus bleheri Géry, 1999

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2C5CC7DD-78E5-49A1-9417-7D919BCC5A7D

( Fig. 13; Tab. 5)

Leporinus bleheri Géry, 1999:108–12 (holotype MHNG 2599.60 , 142 mm SL; type-locality: Verde River , Iténez-Guaporé basin, Bolivia at the border with Brazil, 14°8’S 60°30’W, 11 Set 1996, H. Bleher). — Jégu et al., 2012:119 (checklist, Verde River ). — Sarmiento et al., 2014:38, 183 (checklist, Verde River ). — Ramirez, 2015:14, 25, 27, 31, 57, 75-76, 105–106 (comparative molecular material, Guaporé River ). — Britski, Birindelli 2016:26–27, 37 (comparative material, Verde and Tiquié rivers). — Ramirez et al., 2016:3, 5 (fig. 1–d), 8 (comparative molecular material, Guaporé River ). — Ramirez et al., 2017:3 (comparative molecular material, Guaporé River ). — Burns et al., 2017:1, 11, 15, 19 (comparative material, Verde River ). — Dagosta, Pinna, 2019:69 (new reports, Guaporé, Negro and Amazonas Estuary). — Oliveira et al., 2020:3, 5 (checklist, Jamari and Madeira rivers). — Ramirez et al., 2020:7 (comparative molecular material, Guaporé River). Leporinus sp.1 . — Lima et al., 2005:145 (checklist and brief description, Tiquié River).

Diagnosis. Leporinus bleheri is distinguished from all other anostomids except L. affinis , L. altipinnis , L. desmotes , L. enyae , L. fasciatus , L. jatuncochi , L. personi , L. tigrinus , L. villasboasorum , L. y-ophorus, and L. lignator by having dark vertical bars encircling the body in adults and nine branched pelvic-fin rays (vs. horizontal bars, dark spots or dark transversal bars not encircling the body, and eight branched pelvic-fin rays). Leporinus bleheri is distinguished from the formers except for L. tigrinus and L. lignator by having three teeth on the premaxillary and four on the dentary (vs. 3/3 or 4/4). Leporinus bleheri is distinguished from L. tigrinus by having nine dark transversal bars on the trunk (vs. eight) and from L. lignator by having 16 circumpeduncular scales (vs. 12).

Description. Morphometric and meristic values in Tab. 5. Small-sized species for the genus, largest examined specimen 123.97 mm SL. Greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Body rounded, slightly robust. Dorsal profile convex from snout tip to dorsal-fin origin, somewhat concave from end of dorsal fin to adipose-fin origin, then distinctly concave to caudal fin. Ventral profile convex from lower jaw to anal-fin origin, concave from anal fin to caudal fin. Three teeth on the premaxillary and dentary, stair-like, unicuspid, and incisiform. Lateral line complete from supracleithrum to base of caudal fin. Dorsal-fin origin a bit anterior to body middle. Adipose fin small, rounded, origin slightly behind anal-fin origin. Pectoral-fin origin at the border of opercle. Pelvic-fin origin a bit behind dorsal-fin origin. Anal-fin origin slightly ahead of adipose-fin origin. Caudal fin forked, dorsal lobe slightly longer than ventral one.

Osteology. It is the same as Leporinus lignator ( Figs. 6-7; 9-12) with the following exceptions. Canal on infraorbital one robust and curved. Third infraorbital less wide, more rectangular ( Fig. 6B). On suspensorium, smaller anterodorsal process on autopalatine. Metapterygoid-quadrate fenestra slightly bigger ( Fig. 6H). On branchial apparatus, tooth plate of fifth ceratobranchial with two irregular rows of approximately twelve acicular teeth ( Fig. 8E). Tooth plate of fourth epibranchial with two irregular rows of around six acicular teeth ( Fig. 8F).

Coloration in alcohol. Coloration as in L. lignator .

Coloration in life. Live specimens yellowish, darker dorsally, and lighter ventrally. Vertical bars conspicuously black. Fins colors similar to those of preserved specimens ( Fig. 13).

Geographical distribution. Leporinus bleheri is distributed in different tributaries of the Amazonas rivers, including the Madeira, Negro, and Purus rivers, in Brazil and Bolivia ( Fig. 12).

Conservation status. Most of the distribution area of L. bleheri is relatively well-preserved and includes several areas of protection, such as indigenous land and national or state parks. The conservation status of Leporinus bleheri is likely a Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2022).

Material examined. Bolivia: MNHN 2001-0495 , 1 paratype, ca. 14°08’S 60°29’W, 11 Sep 1996 , Bleher. Brazil: CPUFMT 2820, 1, 122.7 mm SL, Córrego Corgão, tributary of Galera River ( Guaporé basin), 14°27’25”S 59°30’30”W, Nova Lacerda, Mato Grosso, 4 Nov 2011 , G. Figueiredo. MPEG 10790 , 2 , 104.5 – 135.3 mm SL, Urucu River, tributary of Solimões River , 04°52’4.7”S 65°07’25”W, Coari, Amazonas, 16 Aug 2006 , W. B. Wosiacki. MPEG 10791 , 4 , 128.1 – 154.3 mm SL, Urucu River, tributary of Solimões River , 04°52’04.7”S 65°07’25”W, Coari, Amazonas, 21 Aug 2006 , W. B. Wosiacki. MPEG 16764 , 2 , 169.0– 180.6 mm SL, Urucu River, tributary of Solimões River , 04°52’04.7”S 65°07’25”W, Coari, Amazonas, 5 Aug 2009 , B. S. Prudente. MZUEL 21725 , 10 , 123.97 – 86.02 mm SL; 1 CS, 86.02 mm SL, Capivari River, Madeira River basin, 14°42’45.41”S 60°14’59.77”W, Vila Bela da Santíssima , Mato Grosso, 17 Feb 2020 , W. M. Ohara. MZUSP 66676 , 1 , 130.0 mm SL, Tiquié River, Negro River basin, 00°16’27”N 69°54’56”W, Santa Izabel do Rio Negro , Amazonas, Mai-Jun 2000, Tukano indians . MZUSP 85374 , 1, 168.3 mm SL, Tiquié River, Negro River basin, 00°15’22”N 69°50’24”W, Santa Izabel do Rio Negro , Amazonas, 2004, Tarcísio . MZUSP 93445 , 1 , 168.0 mm SL, Tiquié River, Negro River basin, ca. 00°10’N 69°07’W, Santa Izabel do Rio Negro , Amazonas, Nov 2006 , F. C. T. Lima. NUP 19446, 3, 131.7– 46.4 mm SL, Jamari River , 10°05’01.0”S 63°08’52.0”W, Monte Negro, Rondônia, 1 Jun 2016 , J. R. Gonçalves. NUP 23852, 1, 93.7 mm SL, Jamari River , 10°20’10”S 63°15’12”W, Monte Negro, Rondônia, 15 Jul 2022 , J. R. Gonçalves .