Phalloceros megapolos, Lucinda, 2008

Lucinda, Paulo Henrique Franco, 2008, Systematics and biogeography of the genus Phalloceros Eigenmann, 1907 (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae: Poeciliinae), with the description of twenty-one new species, Neotropical Ichthyology 6 (2), pp. 113-158 : 142-143

Phalloceros megapolos , new species

Figs. 36 , 37

Phalloceros sp. n. I Lucinda & Reis (2005).

Holotype. MCP 30405, rio Lindo, affluent to rio Cubatão, ca. 1 km from bifurcation on road from Pirabeiraba to Campo Alegre (road SC-301), approximately 26 o 10’S 18 o 57’W, Pirabeiraba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 4 May 1989, L.A. Bergman et al.

Paratypes. BRAZIL. Paraná. MHNCI 6525, 3, rio Cubatãozinho (affluent to rio São João at baía de Guaratuba. MHNCI 6780, 2, Guaratuba, tributary to rio Cubatãozinho at baía de Guaratuba. Santa Catarina. MCP 10507, 3 Joinville, arroio Lindo, rio Cubatão (Norte) drainage, nearby road SC-301 close to BR 101, Pirabeiraba, 19 Sep 1985, C.A.S. Lucena et al. MCP 13735, 11/4*, and USNM 320321, 12, collected with the holotype. MCP 13972, 1, Pirabeiraba, 9 May 1989, L.A. Bergman et al. MCP 31000, 564, Araquari, stream affluent to Canal do Linguado at Ilha de São Francisco do Sul, 26 º 22’8"S 48 º 42’4"W, 20 Sep 2002, L.R. Malabarba et al. MCP 31137, 127, Joinville, rio Lindo on road SC 301 ca. 2.1 km from road BR 101 (affluent to rio Cubatão Norte), 26 º 11’31"S 48 º 55’44"W, 20 Oct 2002,V.A. Bertaco et al. MCP 31343, 2, same data as MCP 31137. MCP 31348, 7, Joinville, affluent stream to rio Cubatão Norte ca. 50 m from road BR 101, road SC 301, 26 º 12’4"S 48 º 54’59"W, 20 Oct 2002, V.A. Bertaco et al.

Diagnosis. Phalloceros megapolos can be easily and autapomorphically diagnosed by the appendix of the gonopodium greatly expanded in wing like projections ( Fig. 37 ). Adult males of Phalloceros megapolos can be distinguished from their congeners by having pleural rib 7 longer than pleural rib 8 [57-1].

Description. Morphometric data in Tables 1 and 2 . Range of SL: 21.7 to 39.7 mm (females), 17.4 to 23.4 mm (males). Dorsal-fin rays: 8* [19]. Branched pectoral-fin rays: 6 [3], 7* [15]. Pelvic-fin rays: 5* [6] (males), 5 [15] (females). Anal-fin rays of females: 10 [4], 11 [7].Anal-fin rays of males: 9* [8]. Branched caudal-fin rays: 10 [1], 11* [8], 12 [5], 13 [2]. Predorsal scales: 13 [2], 14* [16]. Longitudinal series of scales: 29* [13], 30 [6]. Series of scales around caudal peduncle: 16* [19]. Transverse series of scales: 7* [19]. Serrae on R4p: 10 [1], 11 [2], 12 [3], 13* [2]. Epipleural ribs: 12 [4]. Pleural ribs: 14 [2], 15 [2]. Vertebrae: 32 [4]. Female urogenital papilla right curved, located laterally. Border of anal aperture in contact with first anal-fin ray or very close to it. Gonopodium appendix greatly expanded in wing like projections ( Fig. 37 ).

Color in alcohol. Eye silvery brown with greenish brown pupil. Ground color cream, darker in upper half. Upper region of flanks and head densely covered with brown chromatophores, more concentrated along and nearby longitudinal series of scales, forming in some specimens inconspicuous band of brown chromatophores. Border of scales and subjacent skin replete with brown chromatophores, more concentrated at short distance from scale border, conferring reticulate pattern to body sides, mainly on upper half. Brown chromatophores scattered through whole body, more concentrated on dorsal portion, mainly on head, snout, opercle, and ventral surface of mandible. Lateral spot very narrow, forming vertically elongated bar covering one scale in horizontal direction and two scales in vertical direction. Lateral spot located between 15 th and 16 th, or over 16 th, or 17 th scale of longitudinal series. Faint vertical bars along flanks sometimes present. Dorsal-fin membrane hyaline. Band of dark chromatophores on distal border of dorsal fin. Band of dark chromatophores near dorsal-fin base, more concentrated posteriorly. Pectoral-, pelvic-, anal, and caudal-fin rays unpigmented. Gonopodial rays unpigmented.

Etymology. From the Greek µεγας, −λη, −α [= mégas, -le, -a], adj. m. nom. sg., meaning large, plus πολος [= pólos], n. m. nom. sg., meaning rod, axle, pole, alluding to expanded terminal appendix of gonopodium. A noun in apposition.

Distribution. Drainages of the rio São João, rio Cubatão (Norte) and small adjacent drainages, which flows into the Baía de Guaratuba in Paraná State ( Fig. 18 ).

Figures

Fig. 36. Phalloceros megapolos. (A) Holotype, male, 23.4 mm SL, MCP 30405, rio Lindo, affluent to rio Cubatão, ca. 1 km from bifurcation on road from Pirabeiraba to CampoAlegre (road SC-301), Pirabeiraba, Santa Catarina, Brazil; (B) paratype, female, MCP 13735, 30.5 mm SL, collected with the holotype.

Fig. 37. Gonopodium tip of Phalloceros megapolos, MCP 13735. R3, R4a, R4p, R5a, R5p indicate gonopodial rays.Scale bar 1 mm.

Fig. 18. Collection localities of Phalloceros elachistos (fivepointed star, 1), P. leptokeras (triangle, 2), P. aspilos (circle, 3), P. alessandrae (inverted triangle, 4), and P. megapolos (square, 5). Some symbols represent more than one lot or locality. Numbers represent type localities. The inset is the range of the genus.