Tailspot tetra

discussion

Tetragonopterus caudomaculatus was described by Guenther (1864) from a single specimen (BMNH 1852.9.13.74), which is in very good condition given its age, though the caudal fin is broken. The type locality was given as South America. We believe that the specimen originated from Guyana (formerly British Guiana) for two reasons. First, and most importantly, the holotype corresponds most closely to historic and recent material from the Essequibo River drainage. Second, Guenther described many other species of freshwater fishes from Guyana, including Tetragonopterus affinis (= B. affinis), that live sympatrically with B. caudomaculatus. In the original description, Guenther (1864: 330) wrote that the holotype had “ … caudal fin black, with a pair of large red spots on its basal half. ” This statement raises three important issues: i) that “ spot ” could be consistent with a non-circular color mark; ii) that the term “ spot ” is consistent with the term “ ocellus ” as applied to a clear area on the caudal fin; and iii) that there is a “ spot ” of color on the ventral lobe of the caudal fin. First, while “ spot ” implies circularity, a somewhat round or elliptical mark, as well as any bl

Bryconops magoi and Bryconops collettei (Characiformes: Characidae), two new freshwater fish species from Venezuela, with comments on B. caudomaculatus (Gunther).

materials_examined

Holotype: BMNH 1852.9.13.74, South America, Zoological Society of London. Nontype material: All material from Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Essequibo Drainage: ANSP 176611 (11 specimens), ANSP 176617 (11); FMNH 69762 (122); FMNH 52943 (3); FMNH 52944 (2); FMNH 52945 (1); FMNH 52946 (26); FMNH 52947 (2); FMNH 52948 (26); FMNH 52949 (1); FMNH 52950 (6); FMNH 52951 (1); FMNH 52952 (3); FMNH 69624 (23); FMNH 69625 (4); FMNH 69696 (5); FMNH 7443 (2); FMNH 7448 (1); FMNH 7449 (5); FMNH 7450 (1); FMNH 7553 (1); FMNH 81642 (25); INHS 49391 (1); INHS 49509 (8); UMMZ 216145 (5).

Bryconops magoi and Bryconops collettei (Characiformes: Characidae), two new freshwater fish species from Venezuela, with comments on B. caudomaculatus (Gunther).