Simpsonichthys suzarti

Wilson J. E. M. Costa, 2007, Taxonomic revision of the seasonal South American killifish genus Simpsonichthys (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae)., Zootaxa 1669, pp. 1-134 : 18-20

Simpsonichthys suzarti Costa, 2004

(Figs. 8-9)

Simpsonichthys suzarti , 2004: 2 ( type locality: temporary pool near Canavieiras, rio Pardo floodplains , approximately 15°45’S 39°00’W, altitude about 4 m, Estado da Bahia, Brazil; holotype: MCP 34088 ).

Material examined

Brazil: Estado da Bahia: MCP 34088 , male, holotype, 28.6 mm SL; UFRJ 5810 , 1 paratype; UFRJ 5811 , 2 paratypes (c&s); temporary pool near Canavieiras, rio Pardo floodplains (approximately 15°45’S 39°00’W; altitude about 4 m); D. B. Lara, 2002.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from all other species of Ophthalmolebias in possessing rounded anal fin in males (vs. pointed), reddish brown bars alternated with bright greenish blue bars on whole flank in males (vs. bars, when present, restricted to anterior portion of flanks), dark brown reticulation on dorsal fin in males (vs. reticulated marks absent), and oblique brown bars on anal fin in males (vs. bars absent).

Description

Morphometric data appear in Table 1. Largest specimen examined 28.9 mm SL. Dorsal profile weakly concave on head, convex from nape to end of dorsal-fin base, about straight on caudal peduncle. Ventral profile convex from lower jaw to end of anal-fin base, approximately straight on caudal peduncle. Body moderately deep, compressed, greatest body depth at level of pelvic-fin base. Eye positioned on lateral portion of head side. Snout slightly pointed. Urogenital papilla cylindrical and short in males, pocket-shaped in females.

Tip of dorsal fin slightly pointed in males, rounded in females. Tip of anal fin rounded in both sexes. Tip of both dorsal and anal fins with short filamentous rays in males, tips reaching vertical through caudal-fin base. Dorsal-fin rays unbranched. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fins elliptical. Posterior margin of each pectoral fin reaching vertical through base of 5th anal-fin ray in males, and through urogenital papilla in females. Tip of each pelvic fin reaching base 4th anal-fin ray in males and base of 2nd anal-fin ray in females. Pelvicfin bases medially in close proximity. Dorsal-fin origin on vertical through base of 4th or 5th anal-fin ray in males, and through base of 6th anal-fin ray in females, between neural spines of vertebrae 11 and 12 in both sexes. Anal-fin origin between pleural ribs of vertebrae 7 and 8 in males, and pleural ribs of vertebrae 9 and 10 in females. Dorsal-fin rays 18-19 in males, 15-16 in females; anal-fin rays 22-24 in males, 22 in females; caudal-fin rays 22-23; pectoral-fin rays 11-12; pelvic-fin rays 6.

Frontal squamation E-patterned; E-scales overlapping medially; no scale anterior to H-scale. Supraorbital scales 2-3. Longitudinal series of scales 24-25; transverse series of scales 9; scale rows around caudal peduncle12. Minute contact organ on each scale of anteroventral portion of lateral surface of body in males, usually inconspicuous. Small papillate contact organs on inner surface of three dorsalmost rays of pectoral fin in males.

Cephalic neuromasts: supraorbital 7 + 6, parietal 2, anterior rostral 1, posterior rostral 1, infraorbital 2 + 25, preorbital 3, otic 2, post-otic 2, supratemporal 1, median opercular 1, ventral opercular 1, preopercular 17, mandibular 14, lateral mandibular 3, paramandibular 1. One or two neuromasts on center of each scale of lateral line. Two neuromasts on caudal-fin base.

Basihyal subtriangular, width about 50% of length; basihyal cartilage about 25% of total length of basihyal. Six branchiostegal rays. One tooth on second pharyngobranchial. Gill-rakers on first branchial arch 3 + 11. Vomerine teeth absent. Dermosphenotic present. Ventral process of posttemporal long. Total vertebrae 27.

Coloration

Males. Side of body light pink, with 10-12 reddish brown bars alternating with bright greenish blue bars. Few light blue dots on dorsal portion of flanks. Opercular region pale greenish golden. Iris light yellow, with dark brown bar. Dorsal fin light blue, with broad reddish brown reticulation. Anal fin yellow, with oblique brown bars. Caudal fin brownish red, with light blue dots. Pectoral fins hyaline. Pelvic fins orange.

Females. Side of body brownish orange, with 10-12 gray bars; venter pale pink; 2-3 rounded black spots alternating with light blue narrow bars on anterocentral portion of flank. Opercular region pale greenish golden. Iris light yellow, with dark gray bar. Dorsal fin hyaline, with faint gray spots; anal fin pink with gray spots; caudal fin hyaline; small pale blue spots on posterior portion of dorsal and anal fins, and on dorsal portion of caudal fin. Paired fins hyaline.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, floodplains of lower rio Pardo, Estado da Bahia, northeastern Brazil (Fig. 4).

Habitat

Temporary pools in the Restinga.