Peckoltia

Armbruster, Jonathan W., 2008, The genus Peckoltia with the description of two new species and a reanalysis of the phylogeny of the genera of the Hypostominae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), Zootaxa 1822 (1), pp. 1-76 : 44-45

Key to the Species of Peckoltia (excludes P. multispinis , see species description)

1 Spots present on head..................................................................................................................................2

- Color pattern on head consisting of large blotches, saddles or lines without any individual spots..............7

2 Spots on head very large, sometimes appearing as mottling; body mottled; eye set low on head with a weak supraorbital crest that is not higher than the interorbital space; pelvic-fin spines widened and can be adducted ventral to the abdominal surface of the body; plates on the abdomen rather large ......................... ............................................................................................................................................. Peckoltia bachi

- Spots on head small; body with spots or distinct saddles; eye set high on the head with a prominent supraorbital crest that is higher than the interorbital space; pelvic-fin spines narrow and cannot be adducted ventral to the abdominal surface of the body; plates on the abdomen small.................................3

3 Some of the spots combining to form lines on the parieto-supraoccipital and/or compound pterotic.........4

- None of the spots combining to form lines...................................................................................................5

4 Lines on head most prominent on compound pterotic, not radiating from a central point on the parietosupraoccipital; lines on head approximately same width or wider than pupil ................. Peckoltia lineola

- Lines on the head most prominent on the parieto-supraoccipital where they radiate from a central point; lines on head narrower than pupil............................................................................. Peckoltia vermiculata

5 Spots present on caudal fin .......................................................................................... Peckoltia oligospila

- Bands present on caudal fin.........................................................................................................................6

6 Spots on the dorsal fin; no spots on the abdomen; upper caudal-fin spine longer than lower spine (usually the tail is broken and this character is not present)........................................................... Peckoltia furcata

- Bands on the dorsal fin; spots on abdomen of large juveniles and adults; lower caudal-fin spine longer than upper ........................................................................................................................... Peckoltia brevis

7 Caudal fin with dark bands much wider (approximately four or more times) than light bands; dorsal fin with white spots; abdomen with large dark spots with at least some of the spots combining to form vermiculations...................................................................................................................... Peckoltia caenosa

- Caudal fin with dark and light bands of approximately equal width; dorsal fin with bands or uniformly colored; abdomen with faint dark spots, spots that do not combine to form vermiculations, or uniformly light.............................................................................................................................................................8

8 Dark blotch between eyes and on snout, head mottled, or a bold patch of pigment in the form of an E on the snout with the central branch of the E located mid-dorsally, the top and bottom branches located just lateral to the nares, the three branches extending anteriorly, and the main stem of the E running transversely centered on the nares; none of the plates of the head or nape outlined in black; dorsal and caudal fins without orange edge in life ........................................................................................ Peckoltia vittata

- Head and snout uniformly brown or with the plates outlined in black; the posterior plates of the head and nape outlined in black; dorsal and caudal fins with an orange band at the edges in life.............................9

9 Vermiculations on compound pterotic; plates of head and nape not completely outlined in dark black lines; caudal fin with at least one broken band; marginal orange bands of dorsal and caudal fins narrow ( Fig. 2b ) ........................................................................................................................... Peckoltia braueri

- No markings on compound pterotic; all bones of head and nape outlined in faint black lines; caudal fin without bands; marginal orange bands of dorsal and caudal fins wide ( Fig. 2d ) .......... Peckoltia cavatica

Figures

FIGURE 2. Live pictures of A. Peckoltia bachi, AUM 45592, B. Peckoltia braueri, AUM 38882, C. Peckoltia brevis, D. Peckoltia cavatica, UG/CSBD 11043, holotype, E. Peckoltia lineola, paratype, F. Peckoltia vittata, AUM 39313. Photographs by N.K. Lujan (A) and M.H. Sabaj (B-F).