Taxonomic revision of the genus Paraloricaria (Loricariidae, Loricariinae)

• Grant number: 09/05622-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: July 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Mónica Sonia Rodriguez
• Grantee: Flávia de Figueiredo Petean
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Paraloricaria, which belongs to the Order Siluriformes and to the Family Loricariidae, consists of three species. The diagnosis of the genus and the description of two of its species were based on scarce morphologic features. Besides, the holotype of Paraloricaria commersonoides is lost and there is no register or specimens in collections to represent it. A better study to make a correct diagnosis of the genus and of the species which comprise it should be done, using morphometric, meristic and morphologic studies. Histological studies of the genital pores to analyze the sexual dimorfism will be done and results compared with other genera of Loricariinae. Through this study, the materials will be compared with other genera of the same subfamily and with the literature. The validity of P. commersonoides will be evaluated. (AU)