Phalloceros uai, Lucinda, 2008

Lucinda, Paulo Henrique Franco, 2008, Systematics and biogeography of the genus Phalloceros Eigenmann, 1907 (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae: Poeciliinae), with the description of twenty-one new species, Neotropical Ichthyology 6 (2), pp. 113-158 : 144-145

Phalloceros uai , new species

Figs. 40 , 41

Phalloceros sp. n. P Lucinda & Reis (2005).

Holotype. MNRJ 23608, córrego do Jaque, tributary to the left margin of the rio das Velhas, 19 o 34’28"S 43 o 55’26"W, Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 24 Nov 2000, P.A. Buckup et al.

Paratypes. BRAZIL. Minas Gerais. MCP 30511, 6/2*, collected with the holotype. MNRJ 21604, 11, Jaboticatubas, creek tributary to the right margin of the rio das Velhas, 24 Nov 2000, P.A. Buckup et al. MNRJ 21617, 14, collected with the holotype.

Diagnosis. Phalloceros uai is autapomorphically diagnosed by a lateral spot wide and square-shaped in large specimens [134-3*] ( Fig. 40 ). Moreover, P. uai can be distinguished from its congeners but P. megapolos , P. spiloura , P. malabarbai , P. alessandrae , P. buckupi , P. anisophallos , P. lucenorum , P. pellos , and P. reisi by (1) the female urogenital papilla curved to the right, located laterally (vs. slightly left turned and with a lateral ramus or straight located along midventral line); and (2) border of the anal aperture in contact with the first anal-fin ray or very close to it (vs. separated from first anal-fin ray by the female urogenital papilla).

Phalloceros uai can be distinguished from its congeners but P. spiloura , P. anisophallos , P. lucenorum , P. pellos , and P. reisi by (1) the absence of the right hook and presence of the left one (vs. absence or presence of left and right hooks); and (2) gonopodial appendix asymmetrical; its halves different from each other; right half wider than left one (vs. gonopodial appendix symmetrical; its halves similar to each other).

Description. Morphometric data in Tables 7 and 8 . Range of SL: 18.7 to 33.8 mm (females), 15.3 to 16.6 mm (males). Dorsal-fin rays: 8* [20]. Branched pectoral-fin rays: 5 [1], 6 [2], 7* [9]. Pelvic-fin rays: 5* [2] (males), 5 [14] (females). Anal-fin rays of females: 10 [15]. Anal-fin rays of males: 9* [5]. Branched caudal-fin rays: 9 [1], 10* [6], 11 [5], 12 [6]. Predorsal scales: 13 [6], 14* [11], 15 [1]. Longitudinal series of scales: 27 [2], 28 [7], 29* [9]. Series of scales around caudal peduncle: 16* [19]. Transverse series of scales: 7* [19]. Serrae on R4p: 7* [1], 8 [2], 9 [1]. Epipleural ribs: 12 [2]. Pleural ribs: 14 [1], 15 [1]. Vertebrae: 32 [1], 33 [1]. Female urogenital papilla right curved, located laterally. Border of anal aperture in contact with first anal-fin ray or very close to it. Halves of gonopodial paired appendix sickle like. Medial corner absent. Hook on left half of gonopodial paired appendix. Right hook absent ( Fig. 41 ).

Color in alcohol. Eye iridescent grey with greenish brown pupil. Ground color pale brown, darker in upper half. Border of scales and subjacent skin replete with brown chromatophores, more concentrated at short distance from scale border, conferring reticulate pattern to body sides. Brown chromatophores scattered through whole body, more concentrated on dorsal portion, mainly on head, snout, opercle, and ventral surface of mandible. Lateral spot wide and square-shaped in large specimens. Lateral dark brown spot located over 14 th and 15 th, or 15 th and 16 th or 16 th and 17 th scale of longitudinal series. Lateral spot covering approximately two scales on horizontal direction, and three scales on vertical. Dorsal-fin membrane bearing dark band of chromatophores on distal border of dorsal fin. Dark band of chromatophores near dorsal-fin base. Pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins hyaline. Dark brown line along R3.

Etymology. Uai is an interjection typical of the natives of the State of Minas Gerais. It usually serves to express surprise, but also everything else. The epithet uai is a homage to Minas Gerais, my birthplace. A noun in apposition.

Distribution. Rio das Velhas, rio São Francisco basin ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

Fig. 40. Phalloceros uai. (A) Holotype, male, 16.6 mm SL, MNRJ 23608, córrego do Jaque, tributary to the left margin of the rio das Velhas, Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (B) paratype, female, MCP 30511, 31.8 mm SL, collected with the holotype.

Fig. 41. Gonopodium tip of Phalloceros uai, MCP 30511. R3, R4a, R4p, R5a, R5p indicate gonopodial rays. Scale bar 1 mm.

Fig. 7. Collection localities of Phalloceros leticiae (fivepointed star, 1), P. uai (eight-pointed star, 2), P. anisophallos (square, 3), P.reisi (triangle, 4),and P.spiloura (circle, 5). Some symbols represent more than one lot or locality. Numbers represent type localities. The inset is the range of the genus.