Two new miniature species of the fish genus Priocharax from the Rio Tapajos and Amazonas drainages, Para, Brazil (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)

Author(s)

Mattox, George M. T. ; Lima, Flavio C. T. ; Britz, Ralf ; Souza, Camila S. ; Oliveira, Claudio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY; v. 74, p. 18-pg., 2024-09-12.

Abstract

The miniature fish genus Priocharax currently comprises seven valid species: P. ariel, P. britzi, P. marupiara, P. nanus, P. pygmaeus, P. toledopizae and P. varii. Except for P. ariel and P. pygmaeus, all the species are endemic to Brazil. Priocharax is characterized by several paedomorphic features such as reductions in the laterosensory system, number of fin rays, and ossification of parts of the skull. The most striking reductive character of Priocharax is the larval rayless pectoral fin in which most of its ossified endoskeletal elements are absent. We describe herein two new species of Priocharax from the vicinity of Santarem municipality, Para state, Brazil. Both new species are distinguished from each other and from congeners by a combination of morphological features (i.e., osteological, morphometric, and meristic data) and molecular information (i.e., DNA barcode). We also present an updated maximum likelihood tree which now includes all nine species of Priocharax. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/01970-4 - Integrating morphological and molecular data in the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the miniature fish Priocharax Weitzman & Vari (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae)
• Grantee: George Mendes Taliaferro Mattox
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/06551-0 - Characinae (Actinopterygii: Characiformes: Characidae): molecular identification and interspecific phylogenetic relationships
• Grantee: Camila da Silva de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 20/13433-6 - Phylogeny and molecular identification of fishes of the superorder Ostariophysi (Chordata: Actinopterygii) using genomic approaches
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants