A New Species of the Ornamental Catfish Genus Peckoltia (Siluriformes:

Loricariidae) from Rio Xingu Basin, Brazilian Amazon

Renildo R. de Oliveira1, Lucia Rapp Py-Daniel1, Jansen Zuanon1, andMarcelo S. Rocha2

Peckoltia is one of the 26 genera that constitute the Ancistrini. Although Peckoltia has been reviewed recently, itstaxonomic status is not fully resolved and not easily distinguished from Hemiancistrus. Neither Peckoltia nor Hemiancistrushave any recognized synapomorphies supporting their monophyly. In this paper we describe a new species of Ancistrinifrom Rio Xingu drainage, Para State, Brazil, and assign it to Peckoltia based on its deep body, presence of largeodontodes on the cheeks, and lack of carenate plates on the body. The new species can be easily distinguished from allits congeners by its dorsal-fin color pattern (presence of dark thin stripes in the interradial membranes parallel to finrays that fragment into small spots in larger specimens vs. bands, spots, dots, or membranes with a darker coloration inall other species). Peckoltia feldbergae, new species, differs from all its congeners except P. bachi, P. oligospila, andP. sabaji by having dark brown spots on the entire body (vs. presence of dark transversal bars on the body or a uniformcolor). Peckoltia feldbergae, new species, can be distinguished from P. oligospila and P. sabaji by a smaller postanal length(28.4–32.4% of SL vs. 34.3–38.8 and 35.7–41.0%, respectively). The description of this species is part of an effort toimprove our knowledge about the remarkable diversity of rapids-dwelling loricariid catfishes that are greatlythreatened by the construction of several large hydroelectric dams in Brazilian Amazon, and to provide a scientificname for a species exploited by the international aquarium fish trade.

PECKOLTIA Miranda Ribeiro, 1912 is one of the 26genera currently placed in the tribe Ancistrini(sensu Armbruster, 2004). Although this genus has

been recently reviewed (Armbruster, 2008), its taxonomicstatus is not fully resolved, and there are no recognizedsynapomorphies to support its monophyly. Specimens ofPeckoltia are usually recognized by external characters suchas the presence of dark dorsal saddles on the body incombination with a set of non-unique characters thatinclude the absence of carenae on body plates, incompleteabdominal plating, presence of evertible hypertrophiedodontodes on the cheeks, and equal number of teeth onpremaxillae and dentary (Isbrucker, 1980; Armbruster,2003). Armbruster (2008) suggested an additional featureto distinguish Peckoltia from all other ancistrins exceptExastilithoxus, Hypancistrus, Leporacanthicus, Lithoxus, Mega-lancistrus, Panaque, and Spectracanthicus: an angle of ,90uformed by the dentaries.

Currently, Peckoltia includes 14 valid species and severalstill undescribed ones distributed in the Amazon andOrinoco basins and in small coastal drainages in Guyana(Fisch-Muller, 2003; Armbruster, 2008). In the BrazilianAmazon, species of Peckoltia are found in many riverdrainages such as Amazonas, Tapajos, Trombetas, Jari,Xingu, Tocantins, Araguaia, Jurua, Madeira, Purus, Branco,and Uatuma (Fisch-Muller, 2003; our pers. obs.), mainly inturbid or clear water rivers.

A natural history study on the rapids-dwelling fishes fromthe Rio Xingu conducted by one of us (JZ) recoveredspecimens of an undescribed species of Peckoltia with aconspicuous spotted pattern, similar to Peckoltia sabajiArmbruster, 2003 and P. oligospila (Gunther, 1864). Addi-tional collections made in the Rio Xingu and Rio Iririproduced more specimens of this species, which allowed thedescription of the new taxon presented herein. The genericassignment of the species is discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Morphometric measurements were made with direct corpo-ral measurements taken with digital calipers to the nearest0.1 mm. Counts and measurements follow Armbruster(2003) and de Oliveira et al. (2010). When applicable,cleared-and-stained specimens are referred to as CS and wereprepared following the technique of Taylor and Van Dyke(1985). Institutional abbreviations are as listed in Sabaj Perez(2010).

Peckoltia feldbergae, new speciesFigures 1, 2

Holotype.—INPA 32352, 116.7 mm SL, Brazil, Para, Altamira,Rio Xingu, Ilha de Babaquara, upstream Altamira,03u239450S, 052u129160W, L. Rapp Py-Daniel and R. R. deOliveira, 7 November 2008.

Paratypes.—Brazil, Para, Rio Xingu: ANSP 191000, 3,35.3–61.4 mm SL, Altamira, Costa Junior, 03u29u280S,052u199070W, J. Zuanon, 13 October 1996; INPA 4032, 1,170.8 mm SL, Altamira, rocky shore in front of the town ofAltamira, 03u15920.80S, 052u12945.90W, L. Rapp Py-Danieland J. Zuanon, 29 November 1990; INPA 28953, 9 (2 CS),29.6–131.1 mm SL, MPEG 16765, 1, 70.6 mm SL, MZUSP105755, 1, 72.6 mm SL, Altamira, Costa Junior, 03u299280S,052u199070W, J. Zuanon, 23 September 1997; INPA 31451, 5,64.2–76.0 mm SL (2 not measured), MCP 46404, 1, 67.9 mmSL, same data as holotype; INPA 31491, 5, 41.2–70.0 mm SL,Altamira, Gorgulho da Rita, 03u209140S, 052u119180W,L. Rapp Py-Daniel and R. R. de Oliveira, 7 November 2008;MZUEL 5747, 1, 58.5 mm SL, Altamira, Costa do Junior,03u299280S, 052u199070W, J. Zuanon, 25 September 1997;NUP 12347, 1, 75.8 mm SL, Altamira, Costa Junior,

1 Programa de Colecoes e Acervos Cientıficos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Colecao de Peixes, Avenida Andre Araujo, 2936,C.P. 2223, CEP 69060-001, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil; E-mail: (RRO) deoliveirarr@gmail.com. Send reprint requests to RRO.

2 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia de Agua Doce e Pesca Interior, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Colecao de Peixes,Avenida Andre Araujo, 2936, C.P. 2223, CEP 69060-001, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Submitted: 27 September 2011. Accepted: 29 April 2012. Associate Editor: R. E. Reis.F 2012 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists DOI: 10.1643/CI-11-140

Copeia 2012, No. 3, 547–553

03u299280S, 052u199070W, J. Zuanon, 11 October 1996. RioIriri: INPA 30809, 1, 68.4 mm SL, Altamira, Ilha do Curape,04u069530S, 053u229280W, H. Lopez-Fernandez et al., 17August 2008; INPA 30879, 1, 115.7 mm SL, ROM 84771, 2,107.59–129.7 mm SL, Altamira, confluence of Iriri andXingu rivers, 03u489540S, 052u37990W, H. Lopez-Fernandezet al., 15 August 2008; INPA 31157, 2, 100.0–119.1 mm SL,Altamira, 04u149140S, 53u249340W, H. Lopez-Fernandez etal., 22 August 2008; ROM 84770, 2, 103.7–130.2 mm SL,Altamira, 03u519340S, 052u419250W, H. Lopez-Fernandez etal., 23 August 2008.

Non-type material.—MZUSP 97152, 2, 66.9–98.5 mm SL,Altamira, Rio Curua, tributary of Rio Iriri, Xingu River basin,vila de Castelo dos Sonhos, 08u199070S, 55u059230W,J. Birindelli et al., 22 October 2007.

Diagnosis.—The new species can be easily distinguished fromall congeners by the presence of dark thin longitudinal stripesin interradial membranes, parallel to dorsal-fin rays, that

fragment into small dots in larger specimens (vs. transversalbands, dots, or dark-colored membranes in all other species).Peckoltia feldbergae can be distinguished from all congenersexcept Peckoltia braueri and P. cavatica by the presence of anorange band on the distal margin of caudal- and dorsal-fin(vs. absence of orange band). It differs from all congenersexcept Peckoltia bachi, P. oligospila, and P. sabaji by havingdark brown dots on the entire body (vs. body uniformlycolored or with wide transversal bars). Peckoltia feldbergae canbe further distinguished from P. caenosa, P. furcata, P.oligospila, P. sabaji, and P. vermiculata by its smaller postanallength (28.4–32.4% of SL vs. 33.2–38.3; 32.2–39.5; 34.3–38.8;35.7–41.0, and 33.9–35.6%, respectively). Peckoltia feldbergaefurther differs from all congeners except P. snethlageae and P.compta by having a more depressed head (head depth 48.2–60.4% of HL vs. 66.9–76.0% in P. bachi; 66.3–75.9% in P.braueri; 63.6–77.4% in P. brevis; 66.6–74.0% in P. caenosa;61.8–71.8% in P. cavatica; 66.6–72.1% in P. furcata; 68.9–77.9% in P. lineola; 68.2–80.4% in P. oligospila; 70.5–75.6% inP. vermiculata; and 63.5–87.7% in P. vittata).

Fig. 1. Lateral view of live specimens of Peckoltia feldbergae: (above) INPA 31491, paratype, 70.0 mm SL (Photo: RRO); (below) MZUSP 97152,non-type, 98.5 mm SL (Photo: M. Sabaj Perez).

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Description.—Morphometric data in Table 1. Largest ana-lyzed specimen 131.1 mm SL. Body short, robust and deep.Greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Body sectionrounded anteriorly in dorsal view, becoming graduallynarrower from dorsal-fin origin to caudal fin. Caudal

peduncle compressed laterally. Dorsal profile convex fromtip of snout to dorsal-fin origin, declining in straight linefrom dorsal-fin spine to procurrent caudal-fin ray. Supraoccip-ital with inconspicuous crest, little higher in nuchal region.Ventral profile straight from tip of snout to caudal-fin origin.

Fig. 2. Peckoltia feldbergae, INPA 32352, holotype, 116.7 mm SL, in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views (Photos: RRO).

de Oliveira et al.—New Peckoltia from Xingu basin 549

Body almost completely plated, ventral surface largely unplatedwith small plates on pectoral girdle (plates can cover entirepectoral girdle in specimens larger than 130.0 mm SL).

Head rounded in dorsal view. Eyes relatively large with irisoperculum. Cheeks with 37–64 hypertrophied and evertibleodontodes. In dimorphic males over 115 mm SL, odontodesreaching second dorsal-fin branched ray. Ventral surface ofhead without plates.

Dorsal fin with spinelet, spine, and seven soft, segmentedand branched rays. Spine and branched rays bearing smallodontodes covering anterior margin entirely; odontodes onspine larger than those on branched rays. Pectoral fin withspine and six soft, segmented branched rays. Pectoral spinewith small odontodes on anterior surface, larger than thoseon branched rays, and more developed on tip of spine.Pectoral fin reaching proximal third of pelvic-fin spine whenadpressed. Dorsal and pectoral fins with locking mechanism.

Adipose fin with small odontodes. Pelvic fin with six rays; firstthickened and unbranched, and five branched. First unbranchedpelvic-fin ray with small odontodes on anterior surface, smalleron branched rays. Pelvic-fin tip reaching base of anal fin. Twoplates between urogenital opening and anal-fin origin.

Anal fin with one unbranched and four branched rays;unbranched ray thickened and bearing odontodes. Caudalfin emarginate, ventral lobe longer than dorsal one, with 16

rays: outer principal rays of upper and lower lobesunbranched, and 14 principal caudal-fin rays branched (1,14, 1); outer principal caudal-fin rays thickened and bearingodontodes more developed than on other fins.

Body plates not carenate. Odontodes evenly developedalong body. Two pairs plus one predorsal plates betweensupraoccipital and dorsal spinelet. Lateral line with 25–27plates (mode 25). Four to five azygous plates between dorsaland adipose fins (mode five); 10–11 plates between anal andcaudal fins (mode 10).

Maxillary barbels short, not reaching gill opening. Oral diskwell developed, lips evenly papillated (papillae close to buccalopening slightly larger than ones at border of lips). Teethbifid, with small and moderately narrow lateral cusp, mesialcusp larger and thicker (3–4 times larger than lateral ones).Teeth stalks long; dentary and premaxillary teeth similar inlength; 26–48 teeth on dentary (mode 36) and 32–53 onpremaxilla (mode 36). Dentaries angle 110–120u (mode 110u).

Color in alcohol.—Body color gray in recently preservedspecimens, becoming light brown with time in ethanol.Body sides densely covered by dark brown spots, small androunded on head (smaller than pupil) and larger andcoalesced from supraoccipital to caudal peduncle, givinggeneral appearance of large and irregular blotches on body.

Table 1. Morphometric Data of Peckoltia feldbergae from Middle Rio Xingu Basin.

Measurement Holotype n Average SD Min. Max.

Standard length (mm) 116.7 28 29.6 131.1

% of standard length

Predorsal length 38.4 28 41.2 1.5 38.4 43.8Head length 32.5 28 35.2 1.7 32.4 39.1Cleithral width 28.2 28 28.6 0.9 26.6 30.7Thorax length 25.4 28 24.7 1.0 22.8 26.7Pectoral-spine length 31.2 28 31.7 1.4 28.1 34.7Abdominal length 24.1 28 22.5 0.8 21.1 24.1Pelvic-spine length 25.9 28 26.4 1.2 23.4 27.9Postanal length 28.8 28 30.7 1.0 28.4 32.4Anal-fin spine length 16.6 28 14.4 1.6 10.7 16.8Dorsal-fin spine length 29.9 28 32.1 1.8 28.1 34.9Dorsal-fin base length 28.7 28 28.8 1.3 24.4 30.4Dorsal–adipose distance 13.9 28 11.9 1.3 9.5 14.1Caudal penduncle depth 10.8 28 10.7 0.5 9.9 12.0Body depth at dorsal-fin origin 20.7 28 19.9 1.3 17.2 23.3Body width at dorsal-fin origin 28.2 28 26.0 1.6 22.8 30.0Body width at anal-fin origin 17.2 28 15.4 1.5 11.8 18.0Postdorsal length 35.1 28 35.9 1.2 34.0 39.3Anus–anal fin distance 4.1 28 4.2 0.4 3.3 5.3Body width 29.1 28 31.0 0.8 29.1 32.6

% of head length

Orbital diameter 22.3 28 23.2 1.6 20.1 26.2Snout length 57.1 28 54.6 2.4 51.0 58.8Internares distance 12.0 28 10.6 0.9 9.4 12.4Interorbital width 33.3 28 29.0 2.1 26.0 33.3Head depth 59.8 28 55.7 3.2 48.2 60.4Dentary length 16.3 28 17.2 1.1 14.5 20.1Premaxillary length 15.4 28 17.3 1.2 14.4 19.3Head width 83.6 28 79.2 5.7 68.2 92.8Eye–nostril distance 13.8 28 10.4 1.9 7.4 13.8Interbranchial distance 47.0 28 49.8 2.1 47.0 54.7

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Specimens larger than 107 mm SL with dots rounded, moreconspicuous and well defined, reaching base of caudal-finrays. All fins gray. Dorsal and caudal fins with inconspicuousterminal clear band restricted to tip of rays, more evident inyoung (smaller) specimens. Dorsal-fin interradial membranewith dark gray stripes running parallel to fin rays, moreconspicuous in smaller (,80 mm SL) specimens; stripesbecoming fragmented into spots in larger (.100 mm SL)specimens. Caudal fin uniformly colored in juveniles and withspots on its proximal half in adults (.100 mm SL). Ventralsurface of body uncolored, pale, without dark markings.

Color in life.—Body light brown to orange with dark brownspots from tip of snout to caudal peduncle. Ventral surfaceuniformly light. Dorsal-fin rays bright orange with parallelconspicuous black stripes on interradial membranes insmaller specimens; in large specimens these stripes becomefragmented in variably sized spots. Orange terminal band ontip of caudal and dorsal fins, more conspicuous on smallspecimens. Pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins orange with fewdark spots on some specimens.

Sexual dimorphism.—Mature males with hypertrophiedodontodes on cheeks, reaching the vertical correspondingto the second branched dorsal-fin ray; enlarged odontodesalso present on pectoral-fin spine (Fig. 3).

Distribution.—Peckoltia feldbergae is only known, so far, fromRio Xingu basin. The specimens were collected from threelocalities on the Rio Xingu (Costa Junior, Ilha de Babaquara,and Gorgulho da Rita) and four localities in its tributaries,the Rio Iriri and Rio Curua (Fig. 4).

Ecological notes.—Peckoltia feldbergae is a rheophilic speciesthat inhabits shallow rapids of rivers where the bottom iscomposed by small to medium-sized flat rocks (up to 50 cmdiameter), over a substrate of coarse sand and pebbles.Individuals of P. feldbergae hide under the rocks duringdaytime, and were observed foraging on epilithon on theupper surface of the rocks at night. Stomach contentanalyses of two specimens revealed the presence of largeamounts of diatoms (83% of total volume), as well as spongefragments and spicules associated with fine sediments andsand grains. The predominantly herbivorous diet is corrob-orated by the long intestine, which is nearly 11 timesthe standard length. The shallow rapids inhabited byP. feldbergae also harbor a rich fish assemblage composedmainly of young individuals of other loricariids such asBaryancistrus xanthellus, Oligancistrus punctatissimus, Ancis-trus sp., Pseudancistrus cf. barbatus, and Parancistrus nudiven-tris. During the day, the shallow rapids are occupied by therheophilic cichlids Retroculus xinguensis, Teleocichla mono-gramma, and T. centrarchus, and by the anostomids Leporinustigrinus, L. desmotes, and Leporellus cf. vittatus. At night,when individuals of P. feldbergae were seen foraging, therapids were also occupied by the rheophilic gymnotiformArcholaemus janeae (Sternopygidae) and heptapterids of thegenus Myoglanis.

Etymology.—The new species name feldbergae was chosen inhonor of Dr. Eliana Feldberg, researcher of InstitutoNacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, for her many contri-butions on cytogenetics of Amazon fish.

Remarks.—This species is well known in the aquarium tradeas L12 and L13, which correspond to juvenile and adultforms, respectively (Seidel, 2008); the species of Peckoltiareferred to as L163 (Stawikowski et al., 2003; Schraml and

Fig. 4. Map of Brazil, showing part of the Rio Xingu basin and thecollecting localities of Peckoltia feldbergae. 1, Gorgulho da Rita; 2, Ilhade Babaquara (type locality); 3, Costa Junior; 4, Ilha do Carupe; 5, RioIriri, below mouth of Rio Novo; 6, mouth of the Rio Iriri; 7, CachoeiraGrande; 8, Rio Curua. Drawing by R. Frederico.

Fig. 3. Peckoltia feldbergae, INPA 28953, paratype, 131.1 mm SL indorsal and lateral view, showing the hypertrophied odontodes oncheeks and on pectoral-fin spine (Photo: RRO).

de Oliveira et al.—New Peckoltia from Xingu basin 551

Schafer, 2004), known from the rio Para, municipality ofPortel, Para state, is considered by the internationalaquarium fish community as an additional undescribedform. Nevertheless, we were unable to find recognizabledifferences between L163 and Peckoltia feldbergae whencomparing the available images of that species (Schramland Schafer, 2004); only the careful examination of living orpreserved specimens of both species will allow a conclusionabout the identity of L163.

DISCUSSION

Some comments on the generic status of the new species.—Representatives of Peckoltia have been frequently treatedunder Hemiancistrus Bleeker, 1862 or Ancistomus Isbruckerand Seidel, 2001. Hemiancistrus is unfortunately a poorlydescribed taxon. Ancistrus medians Kner, 1854, the typespecies of Hemiancistrus, was described based on an uncertainnumber of specimens (probably just one type specimen fromSurinam, now lost) as a not deep-bodied fish (‘‘low figure’’),seven branched dorsal fin rays (to distinguish it fromPterygoplichthys, Kner’s Macropteris), trunk plates keeled andstrongly carenate, belly densely plated, and presence of longodontodes on the cheeks, among other non-diagnosticfeatures. These main characters were also used by Regan(1904; redescription of Ancistrus medians, based on Kner’smaterial) and reinforced by Le Bail, Keith, and Planquette(2000), based on recently collected specimens of thesupposed Hemiancistrus medians in Guyane. However, severalother species have been dubiously and, sometimes, inexpli-cably assigned to Hemiancistrus (see Armbruster 2004, 2008),bringing much ambiguity to the understanding of this genus.

In his Hypostominae phylogeny, Armbruster (2004) alsoreinforces the uncertain taxonomic and phylogenetic statusof Hemiancistrus. Peckoltia, on the other hand, although notphylogenetically well defined, is taxonomically well estab-lished, with available type specimens and a recent formalrevision (Armbruster, 2008). In his revision, Armbrustersuggests the use of the angle formed by the dentaries todistinguish between Hemiancistrus (sensu lato) and Peckoltia:.110u in Hemiancistrus and ,90u in Peckoltia. AlthoughPeckoltia feldbergae remains on the upper limit of dentaryangle (110–120u), the uncertainty on the taxonomy ofHemiancistrus plus the aspects discussed above, preclude usfrom assigning this species to Hemiancistrus.

Generic names such as Peckoltichthys A. Miranda-Ribeiro,1917 (P. filicaudatus as type species) and Ancistomus Isbruckerand Seidel, 2001 (Ancistrus snethlageae Steindachner, 1911as type species) have been synonymized with Peckoltia(Isbrucker, 1980; Fisch-Muller, 2003; Ferraris, 2007).

Thus, for the sake of taxonomic stability, the new speciesis assigned to Peckoltia and not to Hemiancistrus, based ongeneral body shape, lack of carena on body plates, and kindand degree of development of odontodes on cheek plates.We certainly are aware that the largely unplated belly andspotted coloration shared by P. feldbergae and Peckoltia sabajiArmbruster, 2003 (recently allocated to Hemiancistrus byArmbruster, 2008) push these species to an ‘‘outlier’’ status,but certainly they do not belong to Hemiancistrus sensustricto as defined originally for H. medians.

Morphological variation.—Larger specimens of Peckoltia feld-bergae show scattered spots on the body, a color patternattributed to species of Hemiancistrus. However, the newspecies is morphologically more similar to Peckoltia vittata,

the type species of the genus, by showing a short and deepbody, a relatively low tooth count on premaxilla anddentary, well-developed odontodes on check plates (hyper-trophied in large males), and abdomen with few smallplates, which led us to allocate the new species to the genusPeckoltia as discussed above.

Two specimens of Peckoltia feldbergae collected in the RioCurua, a tributary of Rio Iriri (MZUSP 97152), showed aslightly different color pattern from the specimens collectedin Iriri and Xingu. The area of upper Curua basin has largewaterfalls that may act as natural barriers for fishes, andhas been proposed to be an area of potential endemism(Birindelli et al., 2009). Nevertheless, the scarcity ofspecimens did not allow us to properly analyze thesignificance of such color differences, so we decided not toinclude that lot in the type series of Peckoltia feldbergae.

Peckoltia feldbergae shows a color pattern similar to P. bachi,P. sabaji, and P. oligospila, with a gray or light brown colorwith dark brown spots and blotches on body. However, P.sabaji and P. oligospila have smaller and well-defined dots onbody and also on dorsal-fin interradial membranes, whereasin P. feldbergae the spots coalesce and form larger irregularblotches on the posterior region of body.

Peckoltia snethlageae is also very similar to P. feldbergae,from which it can be distinguished by snout length andcolor pattern. However, P. snethlageae has small dots (smallerthan pupil diameter) from the tip of snout to the area nearthe base of the second or third branched dorsal-fin rays. Italso bears a whitish band on the distal margin of caudal fin(orange in P. feldbergae). The spotted pattern present inPeckoltia feldbergae, P. sabaji, and P. snethlageae is oftenfound in loricariids inhabiting fast-running waters withrocky bottom, which may represent a cryptic pattern. Infact, many loricariids from Rio Xingu have a wide variety ofspotted patterns that favors the fish blending with thevariegated rocky substrate. Such patterns also include thecommon presence of dark saddles over a lighter dorsalbackground, which is considered a disruptive color pattern(Cott, 1940; Armbruster and Page, 1996).

The rapids inhabited by Peckoltia feldbergae and manyother loricariid species are being rapidly impacted orthreatened due to dam construction in the BrazilianAmazon, such as Tucurui and several other dams in theTocantins River, Balbina (Rio Uatuma), Samuel (Rio Jamari),and many others that are being planned in the Xingu (BeloMonte), Tapajos, Teles Pires, Juruena, and Jari rivers, amongothers. We therefore emphasize the importance and urgencyin describing the many still unnamed species of rapids-dwelling fishes, including loricariids of the genera Peckoltia,Baryancistrus, Hypancistrus, Oligancistrus, Pseudancistrus, andScobinancistrus, to name just the most diverse ones, in orderto try to improve our knowledge about the fish fauna ofthese imperiled habitats in the Brazilian Amazon. Actionplans aiming to protect these species, including in situ andex situ strategies are also urgently needed.

MATERIAL EXAMINED

Peckoltia compta: All Brazil, Para, Tapajos basin: INPA 6865,holotype, 56.6 mm SL, rio Tapajos downstream from theconfluence with rio Jamanxim. Paratypes: INPA 6782, 4,1 CS, 45.3–61.5 mm SL, Ilha da Terra Preta, rio Jamanxim;MCP 45008, 1, 42.2 mm SL, same data as INPA 6782; MPEG18643, 1, 44.2 mm SL, Ilha da Terra Preta, rio Jamanxim;MZUSP 105752, 1, 58.9 mm SL, Ilha da Terra Preta, rio

552 Copeia 2012, No. 3

Jamanxim; INPA 6975, 4, 45.5 mm SL (3 juveniles notmeasured), rio Tapajos downstream from the confluencewith rio Jamanxim. Additional material examined listed inde Oliveira et al. (2010).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are deeply indebted to A. Canto for the help and supportwith fish cataloguing procedures; to R. Frederico (INPA) forpreparing the map; to H. Lopez-Fernandez (ROM) forcollecting many specimens and allowing us to examine hismaterial; to M. Sabaj Perez, for the beautiful image of livespecimen of Peckoltia feldbergae. We also acknowledgeIBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Renewable Resources) forfunding our field trip to the Rio Xingu in September 2008.H. Anatole and J. Bessa (IBAMA) provided invaluable helpduring our field trip to the Rio Xingu. We also acknowledgeA. de Souza, D. and D. da Silva, ornamental fishermen fromAltamira, Para State, as well as I. Barbosa, for taking us tocollecting places and helping us to collect loricariids. RRObenefited from a CNPq/DTI scholarship, and MSR benefitedfrom a CNPq doctoral scholarship. JZ received a productivitygrant from CNPq (process 307464/2009-1). We also benefit-ed from material acquired with financial support from CNPq(Edital Universal, #474236/2004-8).

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