Description of a new species of cynopoeciline killifish (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), possibly extinct, from the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil

By

Costa, Wilson J. E. M. (Wilson José Eduardo Moreira)

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

867

Pages

73-85

Subjects

Biodiversity , Conservation , moist tropical forest , systematics , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.867.34034

 

Abstract

Specimens found between 1985 and 1988 in the Magé River Basin, south-eastern Brazil were misidentified asL.splendens. The recent rediscovery of other specimens in the Estrela River Basin near the type locality ofL.splendenshas clarified the species’ concept, making it possible to recognise the Magé River Basin specimens as a new species. The new species is herein described asLeptopanchaxsanguineussp. nov.and is distinguished from all other cynopoecilines by a unique colour pattern in males, including red bars with sinuous margins. It was collected in a well-preserved, temporary shallow swampy area within dense moist forest, but since 1990 the species has not been found again.Leptopanchaxsanguineussp. nov.is one of three species of cynopoeciline killifishes living in lowland moist forests of the coastal plains of Rio de Janeiro State, where the greatest diversity of endemic cynopoecilines is concentrated. Each of these species has been recorded a single time in the last 30 years, a surprisingly low record attributable to intense deforestation during the last several decades resulting in small fragmented lowland moist forests of today. This study indicates that seasonal killifishes adapted to uniquely live in this kind of habitat should be regarded with special concern in studies evaluating conservation priorities.