Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with a key to the species of the M-lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae)

Author(s)

Marinho, Manoela M. F. ^[1] ; Langeani, Francisco ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, Caixa Postal 42494, BR-04299970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Bot & Zool, Lab Ictiol, Rua Cristovao Colombo 2265, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 4107, n. 3, p. 338-352, MAY 3 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Moenkhausia lepidura (Kner) is redescribed based on the examination of the type and other specimens from several localities of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The species is readly diagnosed from congeners by a combination of a dark blotch on the upper caudal-fin lobe, lower lobe hyaline, and by the arrangement of predorsal scales, in which scales of anterior portion of predorsal area are arranged in pairs, followed by a single median row of scales extending to dorsal-fin origin. The analysis of the type material of Gymnotichthys hildae Fernandez-Yepez and Knodus calliurus Ahl demonstrated the former is a junior synonym of Moenkhausia lepidura, whereas the latter should be removed from its synonymy. An identification key to the Moenkhausia lepidura-group is provided. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15075-0 - Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic revision of the species of Copella Myers, 1956 (Characiformes: Lebiasinidae)
• Grantee: Manoela Maria Marinho Koh
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/11911-7 - Heterochrony and miniaturization: a comparative study of ontogeny in the Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes)
• Grantee: Manoela Maria Marinho Koh
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral