Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum, Uriel Angel Buitrago-Suárez & Brooks M. Burr, 2007

Uriel Angel Buitrago-Suárez & Brooks M. Burr, 2007, Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species., Zootaxa 1512, pp. 1-38 : 27-30

Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum n. sp.

(Figure 24, Table 7)

Geographic distribution: Magdalena River drainage, including Cauca River, Colombia (Fig. 25).

Holotype: CAS 19165 , 421.5 mm SL. Soplaviento, town on the dique de Cartagena road to Calamar, Magdalena River , department of Bolivar, Colombia, C. H. Eigenmann, 11 January 1912.

Paratypes: FMNH 56278 , (1), Calamar, Magdalena River , north of Colombia, C. H. Eigenmann, 16/ 18 January 1912. FMNH 59324 , (1), Soplaviento, Magdalena River , north of Colombia. C. H. Eigenmann, 13 January 1912.

Material examined: CAS 15047 , (1), Apulo, Magdalena River , department of Santander, Colombia, M. Gonzales. CAS 150405 , (1), near junction of Samana and La Miel rivers, near city of La Dorada, Magdalena River , departamento of Caldas, Colombia, T. White and J. N. Reynolds, 27 February 1950. CAS 13233 , (1), Puerto Berrio, Cienega, Magdalena River , Colombia. C. H. Eigenmann, 1913. ICN -MHN uncatalogued (1 ds), Magdalena River , Colombia, R. Royero, 2002.

Diagnosis: A species of Pseudoplatystoma distinguished by a combination of the following features: rays on dorsal and ventral lobes of caudal fin with fused branches or not separated as in other species of Pseudoplatystoma ; wide, straight, dark vertical bars on sides; no loops on nape and associated areas; dorsal and ventral regions of pectoral fin pale with no spots; dorsal fin with few or no spots (sometimes 5 spots); 43 vertebrae; adipose fin with few large spots (6-7 spots); areas surrounding the procurrent rays of dorsal fin without spots; posterior region of the metapterygoid wider than in other species, forming a depression or notch in the dorsal margin of the suspensorium (Fig. 26A).

Description: Maximum recorded length 1000 mm TL. Body elongate and slim. Anterior margin of head rounded. Posterior dorsal region of head rough and with distinctive grooves; supraoccipital process with a crest; median fontanel short, extending from middle length of mesethmoid to connection of frontals to supraoccipital. No rough skin on fontanel. Anterior nostrils short. Body pigmentation dark on dorsal and lateral sides with no clear delimitation between pale and dusky areas. Dark bars extending beyond the lateral line with pale bars. Bars connecting dorsally with those on the opposite side. Region posterior to dorsal fin with some median dark bars. Adipose fin with few and large spots. See Table 9 for a comparison with other species.

Etymology: Named for the Magdalena River, Colombia, to which this species is endemic.