Hypostomus kuarup, Zawadzki & Birindelli & Lima, 2012

Zawadzki, Cláudio H., Birindelli, José L. O. & Lima, Flávio C. T., 2012, A new armored catfish species of the genus Hypostomus Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper rio Xingu basin, Brazil, Neotropical Ichthyology 10 (2), pp. 245-253 : 246-249

Hypostomus kuarup , new species

Figs 1-4

Holotype. MZUSP 109765 , 157.0 mm SL; Brazil, Mato Grosso, Campinápolis, rio Xingu basin, rio Culuene (at the former rapids, current area of reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, 21 Aug 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli, L. M. Sousa & A. Akama.

Paratypes. ANSP 192412, 5, 113.5- 139.6 mm SL; INPA 37075 , 5 , 123.9 - 158.7 mm SL ; MCP 46838 , 5 , 97.0- 112.5 mm SL ; MNRJ 39116 , 5 , 102.6 - 131.3 mm SL ; MZUSP 91970 , 29 , 22.9-112.9 mm SL ; NUP 11269 , 5 , 88.9-127.8 mm SL ; ZUEC 6551 , 5 , 89.0- 150.4 mm SL; collected with the holotype .

Non-type specimens. All from Brazil, Mato Grosso, Campinápolis, rio Xingu basin, rio Culuene. CPUFMT 656, 20, 61.3-140.5 mm SL, rio Culuene , fish ladder of reservoir Paranatinga II, 13°50’58”S 53°15’22”W, 14-16 Jul 2010, F. C. T. Lima, R. Rayla & P. Azevedo. MZUSP 89714 , 2 , 70.3-78.9 mm; MZUSP 89864 , 2 , 89.4-98.4 mm SL, rio Culuene (at the former rapids, current area of reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A. Akama. MZUSP 89804 , 5 , 50.0- 88.8 mm SL; rio Sucuri (tributary of rio Culuene ), 13°55’40”S 53°17’10”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A.Akama. MZUSP 89831 , 9 , 19.3-156.4 mm SL, córrego do Corgão, at rapids (tributary of rio Culuene ), 13°48’18”S 53°16’04”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A. Akama. MZUSP 89859 , 12 , 15.8-84.5 mm SL; creek on road to rio Maria (tributary of rio Culuene ), 13°59’35”S 53°20’28”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A.Akama. MZUSP 89745 , 62 , 46.3-168.9 mm SL; rio Culuene (at the former rapids, current area of reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A. Akama. MZUSP 89878 , 6 , 12.2 -33.0 mm SL; MZUSP 89898 , 2 , 33.4-57.6 mm SL; creek tributary of rio Culuene , 13°51’19”S 53°15’15”W, 15 Jan 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli & A. Akama. MZUSP 91766 , 10 , 16-128.4 mm SL; córrego Corgão, at rapids (tributary of rio Culuene ), 13°48’18”S 53°16’04”W, 21 Aug 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli, L. M. Sousa & A. Akama. MZUSP 91803 , 1 , 46.4 mm SL; rio Culuene , near mouth of rio Maria , 14°00’32”S 53°20’46”W, 21Aug 2006, J. L. O. Birindelli, L. M. Sousa & A. Akama. MZUSP 94217 , 8 , 72.4-186.6 mm SL; NUP 9144 , 7 , 143.9 - 105.1 mm SL; rio Culuene (at former rapids, current area of reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, May 2007, F. C. T. Lima, F. A. Machado, C. A. Figueiredo, J. L. Birindelli, L. Moraes & N. E. Silva. MZUSP 95575 , 2 , 33.6-41.5 mm SL; rio Couto de Magalhães , near village of São José do Couto , 13°50’17”S 53°3’53”W, 6 Oct 2007, F. C. T. Lima, F. A. Machado, C. A. Figueiredo, J. L. Birindelli, L. Moraes & N. E. Silva. MZUSP 97489 , 4 , 16.3-46.1 mm SL; Córrego do Corgão , at rapids (tributary of rio Culuene ), 13°48’23”S 53°15’59”W, 4 Oct 2007, F. C. T. Lima, F.A. Machado, C. A. Figueiredo, J. L. Birindelli, L. Moraes & N. E. Silva. MZUSP 98031 , 19 , 12.9-90.4 mm SL; rio Culuene and mouth of rio Maria , 14°00’31”S 53°20’53”W, 7 Oct 2007, F. C. T. Lima, A. C. Ribeiro, C. R. Moreira & L. Moraes. MZUSP 98138 , 97 , 15.5-143.9 mm SL; rio Culuene , Cachoeira do Adelino , 13°47’50”S 53°14’46”W, 2 Oct 2007, F. C. T. Lima, F.A. Machado, C. A. Figueiredo, J. L. Birindelli, L. Moraes & N. E. Silva. MZUSP 98213 , 8 , 30-120.2 mm SL; rio Culuene , at rapids (immediately below reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, 2 Oct 2007, F. A. Machado, C. M. C. Leite & M. Carvalho. MZUSP 94864 , 1060 , 10.5-217.7 mm SL; NUP 9145 , 5 , 126.8 - 148.8 mm SL; NUP 9146 , 10 , 98.0- 152.6 mm SL; NUP 9200 , 17 , 32.0- 117.6 mm SL; NUP 9203 , 31 , 38.4-132.1 mm SL; ZUEC 6366 , 10 , 50.0- 147.4 mm SL; rio Culuene (at former cofferdam of the reservoir Paranatinga II), 13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W, 2 Jul 2007, L. M. Sousa, A. N. Ferreira, C. A. Figueiredo & F. A. Machado .

Diagnosis. Hypostomus kuarup is distinguished from all congeners, with the exception of H. alatus , H. denticulatus , H. francisci , H. johnii , H. isbrueckeri , H. luteomaculatus , H. meleagris , H. multidens , H.mutucae , H. regani , H. strigaticeps , and H. ternetzi by having high number of teeth (58 to 101, mean 77 on premaxilla, and 58 to 105, mean 80 on dentary) (vs. lower number of teeth, rarely more than 50 on both premaxilla and dentary); from H. alatus , H. francisci , H. luteomaculatus , H. meleagris , H. multidens , H. regani , and H. strigaticeps by having dark spots over body and fins (vs. pale spots) and additionally from H. alatus , H. francisci , H. luteomaculatus , and H. regani by having a large premaxillary ramus, 24.0-29.9% of HL, mean 27.1% and large dentary ramus, 22.2-30.2% of HL, mean 27.0% (vs. relatively small premaxillary and dentary ramus, approximately or less than 20% of HL). Hypostomus kuarup can be distinguished from H. denticulatus by having teeth with asymmetric cusps (vs. teeth with symmetrical cusps); from H. isbrueckeri by possessing an homogeneous caudal-fin ground color (vs. a yellow band on distal caudal-fin margin in mature males); from H. johnii by having dark spots over body and fins usually faded (vs. dark spots over body and fins always conspicuous), abdomen mostly naked (vs. mostly plated), and by having the upper and lower caudal-fin rays almost similar in length (vs. lower ray considerably longer than upper); from H. mutucae by having caudal peduncle wide, width approximately equal to depth at adipose-fin origin (vs. caudal peduncle compressed, depth approximately twice the width at adipose-fin origin), relatively robust teeth on both jaws (vs. slender teeth on both jaws), and body with small dark spots (vs. body with large dark blotches, approximately similar to larger than eye diameter, in specimens around 100 mm SL); from H. ternetzi by having a roughly flat interorbital and predorsal region (vs. interorbital and predorsal region with prominent median keel) and abdomen mostly naked (vs. mostly plated).

Description. Morphometric data in Table 1; meristic data in Table 2. Head broad and slightly depressed. Body width in cleithral region considerably greater than head depth and approximately equal to head length. Snout and anterior profile of head in dorsal view roughly rounded in smaller specimens to roughly square-shaped in larger individuals. Snout rising at approximately 45º from horizontal in lateral profile.Dorsal profile slightly convex and sloped upward from tip of snout to interorbital region, straight from that point to dorsal-fin origin; sloped downward from dorsal-fin origin to region of dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays, then elevating again to caudal-fin insertion. Caudal peduncle somewhat rectangular in crosssection, dorsally and ventrally flattened. Eye of moderate size (13.2-17.1% of HL), dorsolaterally positioned. Interorbital space slightly concave in transversal section view due to supraorbital arching. Mesethmoid forming inconspicuous median ridge on snout. Low ridge on dorsal surface of head, from nares to upper margins of eyes, and from latter to compound pterotic. Cheek plates with usually small odontodes; some specimens with moderately-sized odontodes ( Fig. 2 ). Parieto-supraoccipital generally flat or with inconspicuous median ridge; with small blunt posterior process bordered by large, symmetrically paired predorsal plates. Dorsal and lateral surface of head and body covered with dermal plates except for small naked patch on tip of snout and at dorsal-fin base. Predorsal region with paired, poorly developed ridges. Body lateral surface with five longitudinal series of plates. Dorsal series of plates dorsally flattened from dorsal-fin terminus to adipose-fin base; usually with longitudinal rows of odontodes, larger odontodes clustered at middle and distal portions of plates. Mid-dorsal series with moderately-developed longitudinal rows of odontodes. Median series bearing lateral line without hypertrophied odontodes. Mid-ventral series bearing moderately-developed longitudinal rows of odontodes. Ventral series strongly flattened ventrally, and with well-developed longitudinal rows of odontodes. Lateral line complete.

Mouth wide, occupying almost entire width of head. Lips wide, but moderate in length. Outer edge of upper lips platelets covered with odontodes. Lower lip almost reaching gill opening, its inner surface covered with numerous small papillae. Maxillary barbel moderate in size, shorter than orbital diameter. Teeth slender, with elongate main cusp and small lateral cusp. Intermandibular tooth row angle approximately 150°.

Lower surface of head naked or with small patches of platelets immediately anterior to gill openings. Pectoral bridge usually with some platelets forming narrow transversal row. Abdomen usually with few platelets arranged only on lateralmost border, between pectoral-fin origin and pelvic-fin origin; a few larger specimens also with small patch of platelets on middle of abdomen ( Fig. 3 ).

Dorsal fin II,7; moderate in size; spine flexible; its border strongly rounded; posteriorly reaching preadipose azygous plate when adpressed. Adipose-fin spine well developed, curved inward, with distal tip usually reaching anteriormost dorsal procurrent ray. Pectoral fin I,6; pectoral-fin spine slightly curved with rounded tip, and usually with distally well-developed odontodes, mainly in larger specimens; when adpressed reaching to approximately middle of pelvic-fin spine.Pelvic fin i,5; pelvic-

C. H. Zawadzki, J. L. O. Birindelli & F. C. T. Lima 249

fin unbranched ray curved inward; when adpressed just reaching anal-fin insertion; its border almost straight. Anal fin i,4; when adpressed distal tip of posterior rays reaching fourth or fifth plate posterior to its origin. Caudal fin i,7+7,i; emarginate, with ventral lobe similar in length to slightly longer than dorsal lobe.

Color in alcohol. Ground color of dorsal surface of head and body dull brown. Head, dorsum and flanks covered with numerous dark round spots. Spots on head small, increasing gradually in size posteriorly, especially posterior to head. Spots more densely concentrated on snout and head. Some preserved specimens with overall dark coloration, without distinct dark spots. Ventral region of head and abdomen pale brown to grayish, usually without spots; spots only present as few isolated brown patches in few specimens.

Color in life. Live specimens with coloration similar to preserved specimens, except that fins and ventral portion of head and body are yellowish brown ( Fig. 4 ).

Etymology. Kuarup or Quarup, is an origin myth and a festivity shared by most the ethnical groups living in the upper portion of the Xingu Indigenous Park. The myth tells about a mythical hero, Mavutsinim, who wanted to bring the dead back to life. With this purpose in mind, he collected three logs of Kuarup wood and after adorning them, he asked a cane toad and an agouti, as well as his tribal men, to sing and dance by the logs, as they would turn into bodies for the deceased. The ceremony ultimately failed in the last phase, but Mavutsinim declare that from then on the festivities should be carried in honor of the deceased ( Villas Boas & Villas Boas, 1986). The Kuarup festivity takes places between July and September, when the different ethnical groups of the upper Xingu gather in one village and for several days dance, sing around tree trunks that represent the dead man, and perform the famous huka-huka wrestling contests. The first Kuarup is said to have taken place at the Saginhenhu, a locality recently identified by the Indians as being the Cachoeira do Adelino, one of the localities from where Hypostomus kuarup is known.

Distribution and habitat. Hypostomus kuarup is known from the rio Culuene, upper rio Xingu basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil ( Fig. 5 ). The species is the most abundant loricariid catfish in the area, though, unlike the sympatric congener Hypostomus faveolus ( Zawadzki et al., 2008: 400) , H. kuarup is confined to rapid stretches. The type locality was a former rapid that was dried out after the building of the Paranatinga II hydroelectric Dam ( Fig. 6 ). The species still persists at a fish ladder built at the type locality (CPUFMT 656) and certainly also at rapids situated both above (at the mouth of the rio Maria) and below the reservoir (Cachoeira do Adelino).

Remarks. Hypostomus kuarup is known from thousands of specimens collected in the rio Culuene in the former rapids, current area of reservoir Paranatinga II (13°51’03”S 53°15’31”W), and tributaries of rio Culuene nearby. As the number of specimens is too large, a sample of 60 specimens from the aforementioned locality was chosen to constitute the type series.

Figures

Fig. 1. Hypostomus kuarup, holotype, MZUSP 109765, 157.0 mm SL: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Campinápolis, rio Culuene.

Fig. 2. Head and anterior portion of body in lateral view of Hypostomus kuarup, MZUSP 94864, 147.0 mm SL. Inset box on upper left corner show detail of odontodes development on cheek plates.

Fig. 3. Head and anterior portion of body in ventral view of Hypostomus kuarup, (a) MZUSP 109765, 157.0 mm SL, holotype, (b) MZUSP 94864, 147.0 mm SL, (c) MZUSP 94864, 115.0 mm SL, showing the variation of presence and arrangement of platelets (a, b), and abdominal color pattern (c).

Fig. 4. Hypostomus kuarup, MZUSP 94864, 110.0 mm SL, photographed alive. Photo by Leandro Sousa.

Fig. 5. Distribution of Hypostomus kuarup. White symbol represents type locality.

Fig. 6. Type locality of Hypostomus kuarup, Brazil, Mato Grosso, rapids at rio Culuene (currently dry by the diversion of the river channel due to the construction of the Paranatinga II hydroelectric dam). Photo taken during the early dry season.