Laemolyta taeniata ( Kner, 1859 )

Mautari, Kelly Cristina & Menezes, Naércio Aquino, 2006, Revision of the South American freshwater fish genus Laemolyta Cope, 1872 (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Anostomidae), Neotropical Ichthyology 4 (1), pp. 27-44 : 41-43

Laemolyta taeniata ( Kner, 1859)

( Fig. 23 )

Schizodon taeniatus Kner, 1859: 159 [original description, type-locality: Brazil, rio Guaporé, Mato Grosso]; Fowler, 1942:214 [listed]; Eschmeyer, 1998: 1643 [catalog].

Anostomus taeniatus: Günther, 1864: 304 [brief description, rio Capim]; Garman, 1890: 18 [identification key, description, distribution]; Regan, 1905: 189 [listed].

Laemolyta taeniata Cope, 1872: 259 [designation of type species]; Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1891: 50 [listed]; Fowler, 1906: 322 [brief description, based on Cope’s material]; Eigenmann, 1910: 425 [listed]; Fowler, 1942: 214, fig. 40 p. 213 [catalog, Peru]; Myers, 1950: 197 [diagnosis, type-locality]; Fowler, 1950: 209 [synonymy, distribution]; Knöppel, 1972: 234 [stomach contents]; Géry, 1974: 150 [supplementary description, identification key]; Ortega & Vari, 1986: 12 [catalog]; Santos & Jégu, 1989: 167, fig. p.196 [redescription], 1996: 161, fig. 10, p.178 [rio Uatumã (Amazon Basin), INPA’s material listed]; Garavello & Britski, 2003: 73 [catalog]; Lasso et al., 2004:105–195 [list of species and distribution].

Anostomus (Schizodontopsis) taeniatus: Borodin, 1931: 45– 46 [synonymy, diagnosis, comparative analysis of characters].

Anastomus [error] taeniatus: Fowler, 1942: 214 [listed].

Laemolyta taeniata taeniata: Géry, 1964: 466 [identification key].

Anostomus (Laemolyta) taeniatus: Géry, 1977: 179 [identification key, distribution].

Laemolyta proximus: Lasso, 1992: 15 , fig. 4 p. 22 [in part, only specimen 143.9 mm SL in MHNLS 5512 ].

Laemolyta taeniatus: (Kner, 1854) : Taphorn et al., 1997:55– 100 [catalog].

Material examined. 213 specimens (54.9–288.8 mm SL). Brazil. Mato Grosso: rio Guaporé , Natterer, NMW 81379 : 2, 1 lectotype (by present designation), 159.4 mm SL. Rio Guaporé , Natterer, NMW 62875 , 1 paralectotype, 177.3 mm SL. Bolivia. Beni: backwater slough of río Itenez , 10 km SE of Costa Marques, Mamoré- Madeira Amazon drainage, UMMZ 205215 , 6 of 15, 43.2–69.5 mm SL. Brazil. Amazonas: rio Negro , Camanaos Rapids, below São Gabriel, CAS 116291 , 1, 188.3 mm SL. Rio Negro , CAS 116289 , 1 , 99 mm SL. Rio Uatumã, Presidente Figueiredo, igarapé Arraia , Balbina Dam, INPA 10015 , 1, 172.9 mm SL. Presidente Figueiredo, rio Uatumã, igarapé Arraia , Balbina Dam, INPA 10016 , 2 , 212– 214 mm SL. Rio Amazonas, ilha do Careiro , igarapé da Terra Nova, INPA 10812 , 1, 166.3 mm SL. Mouth of Paraná Urucará, MZUSP 5764 , 1, 249.6 mm SL. Lago Manacapuru , MZUSP 5885 1 of 2, 163 mm SL. Igarapé Jaraqui, left bank of rio Negro , MZUSP 6189 , 8 of 10, 198.7– 235.9 mm SL. Rio Canumá , MZUSP 7057 , 4 of 5, 110.3– 181.3 mm SL. Rio Negro , Tapera, MZUSP 43363 , 1, 207.2 mm SL. Rio Negro, Tapera , MZUSP 59056 , 9 , 166.4 – 221.2 mm SL. Rio Negro, Paricatuba , MZUSP 45559 , 1, 197.3 mm SL. Pond on island in rio Negro , Paricatuba, MZUSP 62116 , 1 , 63.8 mm SL. Rio Negro, below rio Daraá , MZUSP 29158 1, 66.3 mm SL and MZUSP 31266 , 1 , 79.4 mm SL. Rio Negro, Barcelos , MZUSP 29189 , 10 , 74–92.3 mm SL and MZUSP 29192 , 1, 111.5 mm SL. Rio Negro, above rio Urubaxi, central lake in ilha Buiu-Açu , MZUSP 29190 , 14 of 19, 73.5–116.7 mm SL. Rio Negro , below Daraá, MZUSP 32417 , 2 of 3, 122.6– 177.7 mm SL. Rio Negro, lake in ilha de Tamaquari , MZUSP 32417 , 2 of 3, 198.3– 241.7 mm SL. Junction between rio Negro and Arirará, MZUSP 32418 , 1, 205.6 mm SL. Rio Negro above Barcelos , MZUSP 32419 , 4 , 148.7 – 214.4 mm SL. Rio Negro, Marauiá, Cachoeira Bicho-Açu , MZUSP 32420 , 3 of 5, 177.9– 188.7 mm SL. Rio Negro, igapó in Anavilhanas , MZUSP 60184 , 2 , 200.4 – 201.9 mm SL. Rio Negro, lago do Prato , Anavilhanas, MZUSP 60186 , 1, 231.8 mm SL. Rio Marauiá , lake on edge of river, MZUSP 60187 , 10 of 11, 130.7– 227.6 mm SL. Rio Negro , igapó in Anavilhanas, MZUSP 61641 , 1, 145.8 mm SL. Rio Negro , Anavilhanas, MZUSP 63611 1, 212.1 mm SL. Rio Amazonas , lago Puraquequara MZUSP 63612 , 1 , 75.9 mm SL. Goiás: São Domingos MZUSP 3850 , specimen damaged (not included in analysis). Rio Tocantins, below the dam of Serra da Mesa , SM 19– 221 specimen examined (not included in analysis). Mato Grosso: rio Guaporé , 5 km above Costa Marques, INPA 11187 , 5 , 70.3–73.4 mm SL. Rio Aripuanã, ilha do Castanhal , INPA 14275 , 1, 220.5 mm SL. Rio Alegre tributary of rio Guaporé about 30 km above Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, MZUSP 36928 , 5 , 113.6 – 214.8 mm SL, MZUSP 37468 , 4 , 175.1 – 209 mm SL. Rio Guaporé, nearby Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade , MZUSP 37438 , 10 of 15, 144.2– 249.6 mm SL. Pará: Curuá-Una (km 80), INPA 772 , 3 , 168.8 – 288.8 mm SL. Rio Tocantins, igarapé Canoal , above Tucuruí waterfall, INPA 1598 , 1, 142 mm SL. Lago Morateiro, Itupiranga (Tocantins), INPA 1600 , 3 , 88.5–93.4 mm SL. Rondônia: rio Jaci-Paraná, about 40 km above town of Jaci-Paraná (near Três Marias), INPA 10603 , 1, 194.7 mm SL. Rio Pacaás Novos, tributary of rio Mamoré , about 15 km above Guajará-Mirim, INPA 12223 , 1 , 99.6 mm SL. Rio Jamari , INPA 12230 , 1 , 72.4 mm SL. Rio Jamari , lago da Espanha, about 15 km below Samuel Dam, INPA 15206 , 1, 179 mm SL. Rio Jamari, lago da Espanha, about 15 km below Samuel Dam, Candeias do Sul , INPA 15207 , 1, 126.2 mm SL. Rio Guaporé, mouth of rio São Domingos, igapó, Costa Marques , INPA 15208 , 1, 175.9 mm SL. Rio Canaã, about 10 km above Ariquemes, lago Fortaleza, Ariquemes , INPA 15209 , 5 , 161.2 – 204 mm SL. Rio Pacaás Novos, Guajará-Mirim , INPA 15213 , 5 , 109.9 – 217.5 mm SL. Rio Trombetas, Oriximiná , MZUSP 5423 , 12 of 15, 190.4– 226.2 mm SL. Oriximiná , MZUSP 21191 , 1 , 73.6 mm SL. Rio Capim near Ananindeua , MZUSP 21202 , 1, 190 mm SL. Lago Maria Preta, rio Capim , MZUSP 21213 , 1 , 58.3 mm SL. Lago Jurunundeua, rio Capim , MZUSP 21218 , 4 , 86.8–92.9 mm SL. Ilha da Barreirinha, rio Tapajós , São Luís, MZUSP 21226 , 10 , 84.4–94.4 mm SL and MZUSP 22106 , 3 , 105.5 – 124.7 mm SL. Igarapé Açu, Aveiro , MZUSP 21361 , 8 , 104.2 – 133.5 mm SL. Lago Bernardino, near Vila Badajós, rio Capim , MZUSP 63613 , 1 , 96.7 mm SL. Lago Jacaré, rio Trombetas , MZUSP 49320 , 3 , 162.9 – 203.8 mm SL. Rio Trombetas, island in mouth of lago Erepecu, Trombetas Biological Reserve , MZUSP 62412 , 1, 145.7 mm SL. Rondônia: rio Machado, Santo Antônio , lago do Mucuim, MZUSP 61977 , 1 , 68.6 mm SL. Colômbia. Guainía: río Inírida drainage: Morizal Garza, ca 10 km NE from mouth of río Papunava , río Orinoco basin, NRM 27510, 1 of 2, 60.5 mm SL. Venezuela. Laja Vendita: río Casiquiare , Amazonas, CAS 20173, 1 , 87.8 mm SL, CAS 116288 , 1 , 84.1 mm SL. Laguna , 2 km SE of Caño la Pica, Apure, MHNLS 4231 , 2 of 7, 69.3 mm SL. Laguna, 2 km SW of Caño La Pica (Paso Grande), D. Medina, MHNLS 5163, 1, 81.7 mm SL. Río Suapure , Rabo de Cochino , Pijiguaos, Bolívar, MHNLS 5512 , 1 of 3, 143 mm SL. Laguna Cejal, floodplain, caño Mato, tributary of río Caura , Bolívar, MHNLS 12831 , 2 , 99.9–102.5 mm SL. Laguna los Garzones, floodplain, caño Mato , tributary of río Caura , MHNLS 13059 , 1 , 92.1 mm SL.

Diagnosis. Laemolyta taeniata is the only species in the genus having 5 longitudinal scale rows from the lateral line to the origin of the dorsal fin (vs. 4 and 6–8 in the remaining species). Its color pattern is similar to that of L. garmani and L. orinocensis , but it can be distinguished from L. garmani by the presence of a dark, midlateral longitudinal stripe and the more conspicuous, narrow light stripes above the lateral line and from L. orinocensis in having fewer scales along the lateral line (42–46 vs. 47–52).

Description. Meristic and morphometric data presented in Table 6. Body moderately large (SL = 54.9–288.8 mm). Dorsal profile of body almost straight and posterodorsally inclined from anterior tip of snout to end of occipital spine, slightly convex from that point to origin of dorsal fin, straight and posteroventrally inclined along dorsal-fin base and straight or slightly convex from base of posterior-most end of dorsalfin ray to origin of adipose fin.

Gill rakers on dorsal limb of first gill arch 9–12 and 11–15 on ventral limb.

Perforated scales on lateral line 42–46 (44*, usually 44, Table 2). Longitudinal scale rows from lateral line to dorsalfin origin 5; scales rows from lateral line to anal-fin origin 4–5 (4*, usually 4). Predorsal scales 11–13 (12*, usually 12) and usually regularly arranged. Scales rows around caudal peduncle 15–17 (16*, usually 16).

Dorsal fin rays ii,9–12 (11*, usually 12); distal margin of fin slightly rounded. Anal fin short, slightly falcate, with ii,7– 9 (8*, usually 8) rays. Pectoral fin rays i,10–16 (12, usually 13). Pelvic fin rays i,8–9 (8*, usually 8); distal margin of fin truncate. Vertebrae 40–41 (41*, usually 41 N=5).

Color in alcohol. Dorsal region of body generally dark, dark coloration extending ventrally to 1 longitudinal scale row above lateral line. Conspicuous, dark, longitudinal stripe extending from tip of snout to caudal peduncle. Stripe narrower on snout and caudal peduncle. Scales above lateral line with central posterior areas whitish and forming narrow light stripes or linear light dots.

Distribution. Amazon and Orinoco basins ( Fig. 10 ).

Remarks. In the original description three specimens were designated syntypes of Schizodon taeniatus . Specimen NMW 81379:2 is herein designated the lectotype.

Laemolyta taeniata reaches the largest size among its congeners and it is the second most widely distributed member of the genus in the Amazon basin, being particularly common in the central Amazon and upper rio Madeira basin. It has also been recorded in the río Orinoco basin where it has been confused with L. orinocensis .

Data from Santos & Jégu (1996) indicate that L. taeniata is usually found in lakes and main river channels where it forms large migratory shoals in company of species of other genera such as Leporinus fasciatus and L. agassizi .

Although not included in the list of examined material, specimens from São Domingos, ( MZUSP 3850 , specimen damaged) and rio Tocantins, below the dam of Serra da Mesa , Goiás ( SM 19–221 da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, specimen examined, but not included in analysis) were examined .

Figures

Fig. 23. Laemolyta taeniata, lectotype, NMW 81379: 2, 159.4 mm SL; Brazil, rio Guaporé.

Fig. 10. Geographic distribution of Laemolyta taeniata (black dots; open circle = type-locality) and of Laemolyta fernandezi (black squares; open squares = type-locality).