Profundulus kreiseri, Matamoros, Wilfredo A., Schaefer, Jacob F., Hernandez, Carmen L. & Prosanta Chakrabarty,, 2012

Matamoros, Wilfredo A., Schaefer, Jacob F., Hernandez, Carmen L. & Prosanta Chakrabarty,, 2012, Profundulus kreiseri, a new species of Profundulidae (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes) from northwestern Honduras, ZooKeys 227, pp. 49-62 : 52-55

Profundulus kreiseri sp. n. Figure 2

Profundulus sp. 2 Matamoros et al. 2009

Profundulus sp. 2 Santa Barbara Matamoros et al. 2012

Type material.

Holotype: USM 39022, field number WAM09-28, Honduras, Department of Santa Barbara, Municipality of Macuelizo. Drainage: Chamelecón, System: Chamelecón. Locality: small creek that drains to the Chamelecón River, near the Chamelecón Hydroelectric Dam 15.197667°N, 88.616°W; Collectors: W.A. Matamoros, M. Medina and J.C. Carrasco, 3 July 2009 (Fig. 2).

Paratypes: LSUMZ 14851 (n=9), field number WAM08-141, Honduras, Department of Santa Barbara, Drainage: Ulúa, small creek that drains into the main river, 15.029520°N, 88.508°W, Collectors: W.A. Matamoros, F. Elvir and H. Vega, 7 August 2008; LSUMZ 14852 (n=4), same data as the holotype; USM 39024 (n=9), same data as the holotype; USM 39025 (n=7), same data as LSUMZ 14851; USM 39026 (n=5), same data as LSUMZ 14851.

Diagnosis.

Profundulus kreiseri is a new member of the subgenus Profundulus and shares with other members of that subgenus (viz., Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus , Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis and Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae ) the following set of characters: dark humeral spot, a scaled preorbital region and between 32-34 vertebrae. It differs from all members of the subgenusby having less than half of its caudal fin densely covered with scales. It can further be distinguished from Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae and Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus by the absence of conspicuous brown spots on the sides of the body; from Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis by having fewer pectoral-fin rays (17-20 in Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis versus 13-16 in Profundulus kreiseri ) and caudal-fin rays (19-23 in Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis versus 13-18 in Profundulus (Profundulus) kreiseri ); and from Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis and Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus by having a golden blotch that covers most of the operculum and reaches the base of the pectoral fin. Profundulus (Profundulus) kreiseri is distinguishable from all members of the subgenus Tlaloc (viz., Profundulus (Tlaloc) candalarius , Profundulus (Tlaloc) hildebrandi , Profundulus (Tlaloc) labialis , Profundulus (Tlaloc) portillorum ) by having a dark humeral spot and a scaled preorbital. Profundulus (Profundulus) kreiseri can further be differentiated from Profundulus (Tlaloc) candalarius , Profundulus (Tlaloc) hildebrandi and Profundulus (Tlaloc) labialis by having between 32-34 vertebrae (versus 35-39).

Description.

Morphometric and meristic data for type material are summarized in Table 2. The largest specimen is 81.2 mm SL. The body is elongate with the dorsal and ventral profiles nearly symmetrical. The narrowest point on the body is the tip of the snout, with the body expanding gradually dorsally and ventrally to the deepest point slightly anterior to the verticals through the dorsal- and anal-fin origins. The vertical through the origin of the dorsal fin is slightly anterior to the origin of the anal fin. The body depth narrows in the region of these two unpaired fins, and the dorsal and ventral body margins are straight and parallel on the caudal peduncle before diverging out slightly at the origin of the caudal fin.

The head (including cheek, infraorbital and preorbital regions) is covered with scales that are deeply embedded in the skin. The mouth is terminal, the lower jaw protruding slightly beyond the upper. The posterior portion of the maxilla extends ventrally to a vertical through the anterior region of the orbit.

The number of dorsal-fin rays ranges from 10-12 (holotype=11). The number of pectoral-fin rays ranges from 13-16 (holotype=14). The posterior edge of the pectoral fin does not reach the pelvic-fin origin. The number of anal-fin rays ranges from 9-14 (holotype=12; mode=12). The caudal fin is rounded, the number of fin rays ran ging from 13-18 (holotype=17). All specimens examined have six pelvic-fin rays. The number of scales along the midline of the body ranges from 33-34 (holotype=33). The number of scales around the caudal peduncle ranges from 9-10 (holotype=10). The number of vertebrae ranges from 31-33 (holotype=32).

Live coloration.

In life this species is brown, with a golden-yellow blotch that covers most of the operculum and reaches the base of the pectoral fin. An inconspicuous dark stripe is present along the midline of the body starting at a vertical between the dorsal- and anal-fin origins and terminating at the origin of the caudal fin.

Preserved coloration.

Thebody is a uniform dusky brown with a prominent dark humeral spot posterior to the upper insertion of the pectoral fin. A dark stripe is present along the midbody; this stripe is more conspicuous in preservation than in life. The distal margins of the unpaired fins are opaque, but the basal ¾ of the fins are covered with scattered melanophores.

Distribution.

Profundulus kreiseri is only known from the middle reaches of the Chamelecón and Ulúa rivers in Honduras (Figs. 1, 3).

Ecological notes. The only known localities of Profundulus kreiseri are both characterized as small tributaries ranging in width from 0.8 to 4 meters with stones (from pebbles to boulders) as the dominant substrate. The canopy cover of both localities is estimated to be 70-80%. Both creeks feature a variety of run, pool, riffle, rapid and small waterfall habitats (Fig. 3).

Conservation.

The limited range of this species makes it vulnerable to extinction via habitat loss. The creation of a new hydroelectric dam on theChamelecón River will likely drastically impact populations of this new species.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is in honor of Dr. Brian R. Kreiser, the doctoral advisor and friend of the first author.

Suggested English name: Kreiser’s Killifish

Suggested Spanish name: El Escamudo de Kreiser