Systematics of the trans-Andean species of Creagrutus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae)

Harold, Antony S. , and Richard P. Vari. Systematics of the Trans-Andean Species of Creagrutus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 551, 31 pages, 14 figures, 8 tables, 1994. —The species of Creagrutus Giinther occurring to the west and north of the Andean Cordilleras in Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama are revised. Eight species are recognized: Creagrutus affinis Steindachner (1880) distributed from the Rio Magdalena west into central Panama and southwest to the Rio San Juan of the Pacific slope of Colombia; Creagrutus brevipinnis Eigenmann (1913) and Creagrutus caucanus Eigenmann (1913) of the Rio Cauca in northwestern Colombia; Creagrutus hildebrandi Schultz (1944b) of the Lago Maracaibo basin and coastal rivers draining into the southeastern portion of the Golfo de Venezuela; Creagrutus magdalenae Eigenmann (1913) of the Rio Magdalena in northern Colombia; Creagrutus maracaiboensis (Schultz, 1944b) known from western and southern tributaries to Lago Maracaibo; Creagrutus nigrostigmatus Dahl (1960) known only from Cano Pechilfn, a small drainage basin on the Caribbean coast of Colombia in the state of Sucre; and Creagrutus paralacus, new species, from southern tributaries to Lago Maracaibo. Two specimens of an undescribed species (not formally treated in this paper) from the upper Rio Magdalena that are very similar to Creagrutus paralacus are discussed. Creagrutops Schultz (1944b) is considered a synonym of Creagrutus Giinther. Four species are placed into the synonymy of Creagrutus affinis: Creagrutus leuciscus Regan (1913), Creagrutus londonoi Fowler (1945), Creagrutus notropoides Meek and Hildebrand (1912), and Creagrutus simus Meek and Hildebrand (1913). Records of Creagrutus beni from the Lago Maracaibo system (Schultz, 1944b) and from the Rio Magdalena (Dahl, 1971) and Creagrutus cf. caucanus from the Rio Negro of the Amazon basin (Goulding et al., 1988) are erroneous. A key is provided to the Creagrutus species of trans-Andean South America. A neotype is designated for Creagrutus nigrostigmatus Dahl and lectotypes for Creagrutus affinis and Creagrutus leuciscus. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Harold, Antony S. Systematics of the trans-Andean species of Creagrutus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae) / Antony S. Harold and Richard P. Vari. p. cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 551) Includes bibliographic references (p. ) and index. 1. Creagrutus—Andes Region—Classification. 2. Creagrutus—Venezuela—Classification. Creagrutus— Colombia—Classification. 4. Creagrutus—Panama—Classification. I. Vari, Richard P. II. Title. III. Series. QLl.S54no. 551 IQL638.C5] 591 s-dc20 [597.52] 93-48088 ® The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48—1984.