New Species of Leporinus Discovered in Brazil

Researchers have described a new species of Anostomid from the Machado River in western Brazil. Newly described Leporinus lignator looks similar to Leprinus bleheri but differs in its morphology, meristics and DNA, and has 12 scale rows around the caudal peduncle (vs. 16). The type specimen for L. bleheri was caught in the in the Verde River, Guaporé-Iténez basin, whereas the type specimen for Lepronis lignator was caught in the Machado River, in the Madeira River basin. It is thought the two species split 4.4 million years ago.

There are now 80 valid Leporinus species with Leporinus bleheri and lignator both belonging to the L.fasciatus clade. Anostomidae now comprises over 150 valid species in 16 genera, making it the second most diverse family of Characiformes. 

Leporinus lignator grows to 15cm in length. 

Citation

Boaretto MP, Ohara WM, Souza-Shibatta L, Birindelli JLO. New banded Leporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Madeira River basin, Brazil, and redescription of L. bleheri, based on integrative taxonomy. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2024; 22(4):e240028. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0028