Crenicichla chicha, Varella¹ & Kullander² & Lima, 2012

Varella ¹, Henrique R., Kullander ², Sven O. & Lima, Flávio C. T., 2012, Crenicichla chicha, a new species of pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the rio Papagaio, upper rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil, Neotropical Ichthyology 10 (2), pp. 233-244 : 234-238

Crenicichla chicha , new species

Figs. 1-6

Holotype. MZUSP 109198,100.7 mm SL, Brazil, State of Mato Grosso, Sapezal, rio Tapajós drainage, rio Papagaio , about 3 km above road Sapezal / Tangará da Serra , 13º36’03”S 058º25’05”W, 11 Oct 2006, F.A. Machado, F. C. T. Lima, C. M. C. Leite & N. E. Silva.

Paratypes. All from State of Mato Grosso, rio Tapajós basin, rio Papagaio drainage . ANSP 192028 , 1 , 75.2 mm SL ; MZUSP 93683 , 7 , 45.2-94.1 mm SL; 1 c&s, 70.2 mm SL ; NRM 61678, 1 , 82.2 mm SL ; ZUEC 6359 , 1 , 70.9 mm SL: same data as holotype . MCP 39515, 4 , 36.7 -57.0 mm SL, Sapezal, rio Papagaio at Balneário do Pubi , 13°33’35”S 058°24’31”W, 13 Jul 2004 , P. Lehmann, V. A. Bertaco, J. F. Pezzi, F. C . T. Lima & F. Langeani . MCP 42663, 1, 115.2 mm SL, Sapezal, rio Papagaio , 13°33’16”S 058°24’25”W, 7 Mar 2007 , V. Lampert & M. Teixeira . MCP 42682, 1 , 42.9 mm SL, Campo Novo do Parecis, rio Sacre , 13°36’52”S 058°05’38”W, 8 Mar 2007 , V. Lampert & M. Teixeira . MCP 42722, 1 , 39.7 mm SL, Campo Novo do Parecis, rio Sacre , 13°36’52”S 058°05’40”W, 6 Jul 2007 , V. Lampert . MCP 45667, 1 , 33.8 mm SL, Sapezal, Córrego Água Quente, road between Sapezal and the rio Papagaio , 13°32’25”S 058°43’32”W, 13 Jul 2004 , R. E. Reis, P.A. Buckup, A . R. Cardoso & E. H. L. Pereira . MZUSP 5182 , 1 , 76.2 mm SL ; NRM 61677, 1 , 73.9 mm SL: rio Papagaio , upstream of Salto de Utiariti, 13°01’30”S 58°16’38”W, Nov 1966 , K. Lenko & P. Pereira. MZUSP 93510 , 3 , 48.4-137.7 mm SL ; NRM 61679, 1 , 57.7 mm SL: Sapezal, Ribeirão Vinte e Cinto de Maio , near its mouth, approximately 13º35’47”S 58º25’27”W, 11-13 Oct 2006 , F. A. Machado, F. C. T. Lima, C. M. C. Leite & N. E. Silva . MZUSP 93678 , 1 , 97.2 mm SL, Sapezal, creek tributary of rio Papagaio, fazenda Savocal (near road to Brasnorte ), 12º47’02”S 58º23’29”W, 9 Oct 2006 , F.A. Machado, F. C. T. Lima, C. M. C. Leite & N. E. Silva . MZUSP 107043 , 1 , 76.8 mm SL, Sapezal, rio Papagaio and mouth of rio Buriti , near bridge on road between Sapezal and Brasnorte, 12º47’06”S 58º23’05”W, 7-9 Oct 2006 , F. A. Machado, F. C. T. Lima, C. M. C. Leite & N. E. Silva. NUP 11523, 2, 56.5-62.2 mm SL, Sapezal, rio Papagaio , 13º33’42”S 58º24’25”W, 17 Sep 2010 , C. H. Zawadzki & W. P. Troy. NUP 11566, 1, 79.7 mm SL, Campo Novo do Parecis, Balneário rio Verde , rio Verde , 13°37’8.66”S 58° 0’51.99”W, 18 Sep 2010 , C. H. Zawadzki & W. P. Troy.

Diagnosis. An elongated and medium-sized species of Crenicichla (maximum SL known 137.7 mm) with moderatesized scales on flanks. Crenicichla chicha can be easily distinguished from all species of Crenicichla by a set of character states in combination: 66-75 scales in E1 series; laterally compressed body (vs. cylindrical and robust body in most species of C. reticulata group); absence of a distinct humeral blotch (vs. presence in C. saxatilis group); smooth supracleithrum (vs. spiny projections on posterior margin of supracleithrum bone in C. wallacii group); smooth preopercular margin, absence of microbranchiospines and infraorbitals 3 and 4 co-ossified (vs. posterior margin of preopercle serrated or with irregular projections, microbranchiospines present on the 2 nd through 4 th gill arches and infraorbitals 3-4 separated in most Crenicichla species).

The co-ossification of the infraorbitals 3 and 4 is an uncommon character state shared only with Crenicichla hemera . These species also share other uncommon characteristics, as the smooth preopercle and absence of microbranchiospines, but the new species differs from C. hemera in the presence of 66-75 scales in E1 row (vs. 58-65), and by having a conspicuous narrow suborbital stripe running from infraorbital 3 obliquely caudoventrad toward preopercular margin (vs. suborbital marking rounded, situated on infraorbitals 3-4).

Description. Largest male 137.7 mm SL, largest female 97.2 mm SL. Morphometric data in Table 1.

Head slightly deeper than wide. Snout moderately long, rounded when viewed from above, bluntly pointed in lateral view. Lower jaw slightly prognathous, its articulation below middle of orbit; ascending premaxillary processes reaching to about 1/3 of orbit diameter; maxilla almost reaching to vertical from anterior margin of orbit.

Lips thick and wide, lower lip folds separate anteriorly; folds of upper lip not continuous but cutting into a symphyseal thickening. Postlabial skin fold margin truncate. Orbit supralateral, not visible from below, almost entirely in anterior half of head. Interorbital area flat, narrower than mouth. Nostril dorsolateral, about halfway between orbit and margin of postlabial skin fold, with low tubular margin but no anterior marginal membranaceous skin flap. No preopercular or other serrations on head bones, neither on supracleithrum. Lateralis pores on head simple or with two small openings, easily visible. Infraorbitals 3 and 4 co-ossified, with a median opening ( Fig. 2 ).

Flank scales weakly ctenoid. All scales cycloid on head, on dorsum above anterior half of upper lateral line, along dorsal-fin base, on chest, and on belly below line from lower edge of pectoral-fin base to anal-fin origin. Predorsal scales small, embedded in skin, extending forward to transverse frontal lateralis canal; prepelvic scales slightly smaller than predorsal ones. Cheek completely scaled, about 6-9 horizontal scale rows below orbit, superficially embedded in skin. Interopercle naked or with a patch of 1-3 scales posteriorly, embedded in skin.

Scales in E1 row 66 (2), 68 (5), 69 (5*), 70 (3), 71 (5), 72 (3), 73 (3), 74 (1), or 75 (1). Transverse scale row 15-18+1+5-6. Circumpeduncular scale rows 11-12 dorsally, 11-13 ventrally (24-27 including lateral lines).

Lateral-line scales 21/12 (1), 22/11 (1), 22/12 (1), 22/13 (1), 23/11 (2), 23/12 (9*), 23/13 (2), 24/11 (3), 24/12 (6), or 24/13 (2), and 1-3 scales continuing lower line onto caudal fin. Upper lateral line overlapping lower by one scale or not. Scales between upper lateral line and dorsal fin 12-13 anteriorly, 4-5 posteriorly; scale rows between lateral lines 3-4.Anterior upper lateral-line scales larger and more elongate than adjacent scales, remaining lateral-line scales nearly same size as adjacent scales; 3-4 scales impinging on each scale of anterior part, two on each scale of posterior part of upper lateral line; 1-2 scales impinging on each scale of lower lateral line.

Dorsal, anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins without scales. Caudal-fin squamation extending to about 1/3 of fin, posterior margin of scaled area straight.

First dorsal-fin spine about 1/4 length of last; spines subequal in length from 8-10 th. Soft part of dorsal fin with subacuminate tip, reaching to base of caudal fin or slightly beyond in immature males and females. In mature males (MZUSP 93510, 137.7 mm; MCP 42663, 115.2 mm, and MZUSP 93683, 100.7 mm), 6-12 th soft dorsal rays elongated, 9 th and 10 th reaching level of middle caudal fin or even surpassing its distal margin. Dorsal-fin count XIX.14 (3), XIX.15 (1), XX.13 (3), XX.14 (15*), XX.15 (4), XXI.13 (1).

Soft anal fin with subacuminate tip, 7 th ray longest, reaching slightly beyond caudal fin base; largest male (MZUSP 93510) with the 7 th and 8 th rays more elongated, reaching to half of caudal fin. Skin of anterior soft rays, lappets and proximal margin of soft portion thickened. Anal fin count III.10 (1*), III.11 (2), III.12 (22), III.13 (1), IV. 10 (1). Caudal fin rounded to sublanceolated. Pectoral fin rounded, 7th ray longest, reaching about halfway to first to third anal spine. Pectoral-fin rays 17 (13), 18 (14*). Pelvic fin inserted slightly posteriorly to vertical from pectoral axilla, with rounded or subacuminate tip, second ray longest, reaching about halfway to spinous anal fin.

All teeth pointed, slightly recurved, teeth in outer row fixed, teeth in inner rows inclinable, some depressible. Outer row teeth larger than inner teeth. Outer row with about 50 teeth in upper jaw (1 c&s), extending for nearly the length of the alveolar ramus of the premaxilla. Upper jaw with 3-5 inner rows anteriorly, one inner row continued almost as long as outer row; 2-3 irregular inner rows in smaller specimens (up to 60 mm). Outer row with 52 teeth in lower jaw, extending along 5/6 of length of jaw. Lower jaw with 2-3 inner rows anteriorly, one inner row continued posteriorly for almost as long as outer row. Gill rakers externally on first gill arch 1-2 epibranchial, 1 at angle; ceratobranchial gill-rakers 6 (1), 8 (13), 9 (10), or 10 (4*). Gill rakers on lower pharyngeal tooth-plate 6 (1), 7 (4*), 8 (10), or 9 (10). Microbranchiospines absent from all gill arches.

Lower pharyngeal tooth-plate ( Fig. 3 ) dissected from a 70.2 mm specimen (MZUSP 93683), dorsoventrally compressed, with long posterior and anterior processes; tooth-plate length 79% of width; dentigerous area length 48% of width; 21 teeth in posterior row, 8-9 teeth in admedian row. Anterior teeth subconical with slightly retrorse cusp and posterior ones bigger and more robust with posterior antrorse cusp. Vertebral counts: abdominal 19, caudal 16, total 35.

Color in alcohol. Underside of head, chest, abdomen below level of pectoral-fin base and narrow zone along anal-fin base and ventral edge of caudal peduncle tan. Cheek light brown, preopercle and gill cover light grey. Snout dorsally and interorbital area dark grey. Sides and nape brownish to grey, scales almost uniformly pigmented. Lateral-line scales uniformly pigmented with same color as adjacent scales.

Preorbital stripe black and conspicuous, running from tip of lower jaw, continuing backwards onto upper lip, running below level of nostrils to orbit. Postorbital stripe appears as continuation of preorbital stripe, running behind orbit to opercular angle and onto supracleithrum with a ventral extension onto medial side of pectoral axilla.

Dark brownish, almost black narrow stripe parallels postorbital stripe, running just behind upper margin of orbit to extrascapular area; dark brownish double-marking on area corresponding to supraoccipital crest; both markings more or less masked by dark nape coloration in larger specimens. Narrow uniformly pigmented suborbital stripe running from infraorbital 3 obliquely caudoventrad toward preopercular margin.

Spots absent from pectoral-fin base. Humeral blotch absent. Dark midlateral stripe, 2-3 scales deep, continuous from supracleithrum to caudal peduncle. Seven to nine wide, relatively faded dark vertical bars, anteriormost at nape, 5-7 bars situated below dorsal fin base, last bar at caudal peduncle. Vertical bars fuse with midlateral stripe, forming a distinct midlateral row of continuous blotches, giving an overall marbled color pattern. Largest specimen examined (MZUSP 93510, 137.7 mm SL) with dark bars considerably more conspicuous than midlateral stripe, forming an overall barred pattern. A faint, often interrupted dark lateral band along the abdominal side present in some specimens.

Dorsal fin smoky with irregular narrow brown markings on spinous portion and up to five rows of small dots on soft portion; continuation of vertical bar pigmentation on dorsal fin base. In larger males, dorsal fin almost uniformly pigmented, with dark margin. In MZUSP 107043 (76.8 mm SL), dorsal fin without dots or dark margin but with remaining vertical bars pigmentation on fin base.

Anal fin greyish, gradually darker to lower margin. Pectoral fin hyaline, slightly dusky near base. Pelvic fin hyaline, slightly dusky on spine and anterior rays. Dark midlateral stripe continuing into middle caudal-fin rays as a lanceolate dark blotch extending across 3/4 of caudal fin length. Subdistal dark pigmentation contouring caudal fin, marginal area clear. Small scattered dark dots on dorsal and ventral caudal fin portions on most specimens. Ocellated caudal blotch black, rounded, ringed with light pigment, situated on the dorsal lobe, between rays V1 and D3.

Color in life. Based on NUP 11523, a young specimen ( Fig.4 ) and MZUSP 93510, a mature male ( Fig.5 ).

Young specimen. Dorsal portion of head and body yellowish green, ventral portion of head and abdominal region pale. Preorbital, postorbital and lateral band dark grey, running beyond caudal peduncle. Suborbital stripe maroon. Vertical Grosso, Brazil ( Fig.6 ). The new species was collected both above and below the Cachoeira do Utiariti, a major (about 90 meters high) waterfall in the rio Papagaio.

bars on flanks faint grey. Small orange blotches scattered on flanks. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins with red margin and reddish small dots. Caudal blotch evident with white ocellus.

Adult male. Head, nape, pectoral-fin basis, and dorsum to about the fifth dorsal spine lemon green. Sides of body bluish grey; preorbital, postorbital, lateral band, and vertical bars of flanks dark grey, less evident than in the young specimen. Irregular, narrow, wavy orange vertical stripes formed by pigmentation concentrated on scale margins distributed across flanks and caudal peduncle, relatively small anteriorly, longer and densely concentrated towards caudal peduncle, where they present a net arrangement. Pectoral fin lemon green. Pelvic spine and three anterior rays yellowish, remaining pelvic fin rays hyaline. Dorsal fin rays red, interradial membranes reddish. Distal portion of anal fin yellowish, basal portion bluish grey, with rows of red spots at basis. Caudal fin red, except for lanceolate dark grey stripe on middle caudal fin rays.

Distribution. Crenicichla chicha is known from the rio Papagaio and tributaries, itself a tributary of the rio Juruena, a major headwater of the rio Tapajós in the state of Mato Etymology. The new species is named Crenicichla chicha as homage to the Paresi (or Halíti), one of the indigenous groups originally living in the Mato Grosso plateau in the region of the upper rio Juruena basin. The epithet refers to “chicha” festivities of these people, in what they meet to drink “olóniti”, a beverage made with roasted tapioca (cassava starch) of mandioca brava (bitter cassava), dance, and sing their myths. Nowadays, these celebrations occur mainly when they conclude rites of individual passage - nomination of children and pubertal girls, or within a timetable ritual, such the first harvest time of a culture of cassava. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Ecological notes. The water of the rio Papagaio is transparent and runs over a predominantly rocky bed, with swift current, and numerous rapids. One of the authors (FCTL) observed (during snorkeling) specimens of Crenicichla chicha in the rio Papagaio mainly in backwaters, or behind large boulders where water current was relatively slack. Crenicichla chicha was also observed and collected in smaller tributaries, such as the ribeirão Vinte e Cinco de Maio (which has slightly turbid waters and a predominantly sandy/muddy bottom). Like other species of Crenicichla , C. chicha is inquisitive, approaching divers, and easily collected by hand net during snorkeling. Crenicichla chicha was the only Crenicichla species occurring above the Cachoeira do Utiariti, but below this major waterfall it occurs syntopically with an undescribed species belonging to the C. saxatilis species group.

Figures

Fig. 1. Crenicichla chicha. (a) Holotype, MZUSP109198, 100.7 mm SL, a male from rio Papagaio; (b) Paratype, MZUSP 93678, 97.2 mm SL, female, from a tributary of rio Papagaio; (c) Paratype, MZUSP 93510, 137.7 mm SL, male, from ribeirãoVinte e Cinto de Maio, tributary of rio Papagaio; (d) Paratype, MZUSP 93683, 61.4 mm SL, juvenile, from ribeirão Vinte e Cinco de Maio, tributary of rio Papagaio.

Fig. 2. Lacrimal and infraorbital series of Crenicichla chicha, lateral view of the left side (MZUSP 93683, 70.2 mm SL). Note that infraorbitals 3 and 4 are co-ossified, with a median opening.

Fig. 3. Lower pharyngeal tooth plate of Crenicichla chicha, MZUSP 93683, paratype,70.2 mmSL,in (a) occlusal,(b)lateral (anterior to left) and (c) posterior views.

Fig. 4. Crenicichla chicha, living specimen (paratype, NUP 11523, 62.2 mm SL): Brazil, Mato Grosso, rio Papagaio (photo by Cláudio Zawadzki and Waldo Troy).

Fig. 5. Crenicichla chicha, living specimen (paratype, MZUSP 93510, 137.7 mm SL): Brazil, Mato Grosso, ribeirão Vinte e Cinco de Maio, tributary of rio Papagaio (photo by C. M. C. Leite).

Fig. 6. Map of northern South America, showing distributions of Crenicichla chicha (circles) and C. hemera (squares). Type locality of each species as black symbols. A symbol may represent more than one collecting site.