New Ituglanis

[Silurus]

Datovo, A & MCC de Pinna, 2014. A new species of Ituglanis representing the southernmost record of the genus, with comments on phylogenetic relationships (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Journal of Fish Biology. 84: 314–327.

Abstract

Ituglanis australis new species, is described from tributaries of the Laguna dos Patos and Río Uruguay, in Brazil and Uruguay. This represents the southernmost record of the genus and the first occurrence of a species of Ituglanis in those systems. It is distinguished from all its congeners, except Ituglanis parahybae and Ituglanis cahyensis, by its body pigmentation with three well-defined dark brown stripes running along each flank. Ituglanis australis differs from I. parahybae and I. cahyensis in the pectoral- and pelvic-fin ray counts, the pattern of the cephalic laterosensory system and the number of dorsal-fin basal radials. The new species, as well as several other examined congeners, has the levator internus IV muscle attached to the dorsal face of the posttemporo-supracleithrum; a condition that corroborates the inclusion of Ituglanis into a large trichomycterine clade that also includes Bullockia, Hatcheria, Scleronema and several species of Trichomycterus. Previous proposals of the affinities within Ituglanis are reviewed and, despite some advances, the phylogenetic relationships among species of the genus remain largely unknown.

[Richard B]

Sounds very interesting indeed - i'm liking this family more & more but its a shame very few reach the hobby (of those that are suitable for captivity) - is anything further available?

[Bas Pels]

As for most fishes from Uruguay - the easiest, and quite often only way to get them is buying a ticket and collecting them oneself. Uruguay even presents export permits for the fishes.

Anyone interested in going in the winter 2014 - 2015? I had hoped to go this winter, but the others quitted on the last possible day.