Corydoras rikbaktsa Lima & Britto 2020, new species
Creators: name: Lima, Flávio C. T.
name: Britto, Marcelo R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Siluriformes
Callichthyidae
Corydoras
Corydoras rikbaktsa

description: Corydoras rikbaktsa, new species
(Figs. 1–3; Table I)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2EBAD50A-CF09-4EBE-9D3E-38B662F7E9DC
Holotype. MZUSP 125013, female, 37.4 mm SL, Brazil, Mato Grosso, Rio Juininha (trib. Rio Juruena), road BR- 174, 11º32’12’’S, 58º51’8’’W; O. T. Oyakawa, F.C.P. Dagosta, M.M.F. Marinho & P. Camelier, 31 Aug 2013.
Paratypes. All from Brazil, Mato Grosso. MZUSP 93534, 3, 17.8–33.1 mm SL; CAS 245736, 1, 28.4 mm SL; ZUEC 16840, 1, 31.9 mm SL; Sapezal, Rio Papagaio and mouth of rio Buriti, near the bridge at the road between Sapezal and Brasnorte, 12º48’3’’S, 58º23’53’’W; F.A. Machado, F.C. T. Lima, C.M.C. Leite & N.E. Silva, 7–9 Oct 2006. MZUSP 115781, 4, 15.4–31.6 mm SL, same data as holotype. MZUSP 123863, 6, 1 C&S, 19.7–38.0 mm SL; ANSP 205808, 1, 36.6 mm SL; MNRJ 51477, 1, 32.9 mm SL: Juína, stream tributary of rio Juína-Mirim, Juína-Vilhena road, 11º33’45’’S, 58º56’7’’W; A. Datovo, F.C.P. Dagosta, P.C. Camelier & M.M.F. Marinho, 4 Oct 2016.
Diagnosis. Corydoras rikbaktsa can be diagnosed from all congeners, except for C. atropersonatus Weitzman & Nijssen, C. griseus Holly, and C. sychri Weitzman, by having the combination of a distinct broad vertical bar on head, at the level of the eye (mask) and an overall light background color, without large blotches or stripes on body or fins (vs. broad vertical bar on head, when present, always in combination with body and/or fins with distinct large blotches and/or stripes, or with an overall dark coloration). It can be diagnosed from the aforementioned species by having two to four blotches along the midline (vs. presence of irregular specks on the body, mostly on predorsal area, absent in some specimens, in C. atropersonatus and C. sychri, or lack of any dark markings with the exception of the vertical bar at the head in C. griseus), and for presenting broad vertical bar on head narrower at the level of the eye and extending over the entire opercle (vs. broad vertical bar on head roughly of the same width along its length and only extending to the anterior portion of opercle). It can be additionally distinguished from C. sychri by presenting posterior margin of pectoral-fin spine with serrations directed towards the tip of the spine (vs. directed towards its origin). See the Discussion, for additional comments.
Description. Morphometric data for the holotype and paratypes presented in Table I. Head moderately compressed, roughly triangular in profile, snout profile moderately pointed (Fig. 1, 2C, 3) or relatively rounded (Fig. 2 A–B) (“intermediate long”/”intermediate short” sensu Alexandrou et al., 2011: 85). Dorsal profile steep and slightly to considerably convex from snout tip to level through anterior naris, slightly concave from latter point to vertical through middle of orbit, and slightly convex from latter point to dorsal-fin origin. Dorsal profile of body approximately straight from dorsal-fin origin to adipose-fin terminus, and slightly concave at caudal peduncle. Ventral profile of body straight from mouth to anal-fin origin, slightly concave along caudal peduncle. Body roughly triangular in cross section at pectoral girdle, gradually tapering toward caudal fin.
Eye rounded, located dorsolaterally on head; orbit delimited dorsally by frontal and sphenotic, ventrally by infraorbitals. Anterior and posterior nares proximal, only separated by flap of skin. Anterior naris tubular. Posterior naris close to anterodorsal margin of orbit, separated from it by distance slightly larger than naris diameter. Mouth small, subterminal, slightly wider than bony orbit diameter. Maxillary barbel relatively short, only reaching anteroventral portion of opercle. Outer mental barbel slightly shorter than maxillary barbel. Inner mental barbels very short, fleshy and depressed. Small rounded papillae covering entire surface of all barbels, upper and lower lips, and isthmus. Gill membranes united to isthmus.
Nasal, frontal, sphenotic, compound pterotic, and parieto-supraoccipital visible externally, all covered by thin layer of skin and bearing minute scattered odontodes. Mesethmoid entirely covered by thick layer of skin, relatively long, anterior portion variably developed; one C&S specimen (MZUSP 123863) with anterior portion about 50% of bone length. Posterior portion of mesethmoid wide, with short lateral expansions sutured to lateral ethmoid, delimiting nasal capsule. Nasal slender, slightly curved laterally, inner margin with small laminar expansion; outer margin with reduced laminar expansion; mesial border contacting only frontal. Frontal elongated, narrow, with width smaller than half of entire length; anterior projection short, size smaller than nasal length. Frontal fontanel elongated, covered by thin layer of skin; posterior tip extending into parieto-supraoccipital. Sphenotic somewhat trapezoid in shape, contacting parieto-supraoccipital dorsally, compound pterotic posteriorly, second infraorbital ventrally and frontal anteriorly. Compound pterotic with posteriormost portion contacting first lateral-line ossicle, first dorsolateral body plate and ventral margin contacting opercle and cleithrum. Compound pterotic occluding swimbladder capsule. Parieto-supraoccipital wide, posterior process long and contacting nuchal plate; region of contact between posterior process and nuchal plate covered by layer of skin.
Two infraorbital bones, externally visible, covered by thin layer of skin, with minute odontodes. First infraorbital large, ventral laminar expansion moderately developed (Fig. 4); anterior portion with moderately developed expansion, reaching to middle portion of nasal capsule, articulated only to lateral ethmoid; inner laminar expansion poorly developed. Second infraorbital short and narrow, contacting only sphenotic dorsally; inner laminar expansion strongly reduced; posteroventral margin contacting posterodorsal ridge of hyomandibula. Posterodorsal ridge of hyomandibula close to its articulation with opercle slender and exposed; dorsal ridge of hyomandibula between compound pterotic and opercle covered by thick layer of skin. Interopercle covered by relatively thick layer of skin, partially visible externally; somewhat triangular, deeper than long in shape. Preopercle elongated, relatively slender; minute odontodes sparse on external surface. Opercle exposed, compact in shape, and covered by small odontodes; free margin gently curved.
Four branchiostegal rays covered by thin layer of skin. Fifth ceratobranchial with 35 teeth in single row along mesial and posterior border on dorsal surface. Upper pharyngeal tooth plate oval, with 43 teeth in roughly single row along posterior border on ventral surface.
Trunk lateral line reduced to two latero-sensory ossicles, anterior one tubular. Lateral-line canal entering neurocranium through compound pterotic, branching twice before entering sphenotic: pterotic, with single pore, and preoperculomandibular branch, conspicuously reduced, with a single pore opening close to postotic main canal. Sensory canal continuing through compound pterotic, entering sphenotic as temporal canal, which splits into two branches: first branch giving rise to infraorbital canal, second branch entering frontal through supraorbital canal, both with single pore. Supraorbital canal branched, running through nasal bone. Epiphyseal branch conspicuously reduced; pore opening close to supraorbital main canal, directed towards frontal fontanel. Nasal canal with two openings, first on posterolateral portion, and second on anterior edge. Infraorbital canal running through entire second infraorbital, extending to infraorbital 1 and generally opening into two pores. Preoperculomandibular branch giving rise to preoperculo-mandibular canal, which runs through entire preopercle with three openings, leading to pores 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Dorsal-fin origin just posterior to third dorsolateral body plate. Dorsal spine shorter than first branched ray. Anterior margin of dorsal spine with scattered odontodes; posterior margin with few distal serrations directed towards its tip (Fig. 5). Dorsal-fin rays II, 7, i* (13). Anal fin origin located posterior to 13th ventrolateral body plates, at vertical through posterior margin of last preadipose platelet. Anal-fin rays ii, 5 in all specimens. Pectoral-fin origin located just posterior to gill opening. Pectoral spine shorter than first branched ray, its tip conical. Distal tip of spine followed by a short, segmented unossified portion. Pectoral spine flattened with smooth anterior margin and moderately developed, numerous (18–28) antrorse, oblique serrations along entire posterior margin, except for tip (Fig. 6). Pectoral-fin rays I, 9*(13). Pelvic-fin insertion just below first ventrolateral body plate, at vertical through first branched dorsal-fin ray. Pelvic-fin rays i, 5 in all specimens. Caudal fin bilobed, weakly forked; upper lobe slightly longer. Principal caudal-fin rays i,6/6,i; upper and lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 4 and 3, respectively. Total number of caudal-fin rays 21. All fins with minute odontodes scattered over all rays.
Body plates with minute odontodes scattered over the entire surface of plates in specimens smaller than 24.4 mm SL, but mostly restricted to posterior margins in specimens larger than 28.4 mm SL. Nuchal plate exposed. Cleithrum and mesial process of scapulocoracoid exposed. Minute odontodes scattered over area between scapulocoracoids. Dorsolateral and ventrolateral plates not touching counterparts in specimens up to 28.6 mm SL, leaving narrow naked area along dorsal and ventral surfaces between dorsal and adipose fin and urogenital papillae and anal-fin origin. Dorsalateral and ventrolateral plates at caudal peduncle not touching counterparts leaving naked area in specimens up to 24.4 mm SL. Dorsolateral body plates 23(1), 24*(10), or 25(2); ventrolateral body plates 21*(11), or 22(2); dorsolateral body plates along dorsal-fin base 5*(4), or 6(9); dorsolateral body plates from adipose fin to caudal-fin base 7(4), 8*(8), or 9(1); preadipose platelets 1*(4), 2(4), or 3(5). First dorsolateral body plate subdivided dorsally and ventrally, respectively; second dorsolateral body plate narrower than adjacent plates (Fig. 4). Total vertebrae 23, precaudal 9, caudal 14; six ribs, first pair well developed.
Color in alcohol. Overall ground color cream. A broad, dark vertical bar at the level of eye, occupying top of head, opercle, posterior portion of first infraorbital and entire second infraorbital, and preopercle. Two to four small blotches at midline, along junction of dorsolateral and ventrolateral plates. First blotch, when present, at level of 7th dorsolateral plate. Second blotch, when present, at the level of 9–12th dorsolateral plate. Third blotch at level of 13–16th dorsolateral plate. Fourth blotch at level of 21st–22th dorsolateral plate, at caudal peduncle. Dark chromatophores concentrated over nuchal plate, parieto-supraoccipital, anteriormost dorsolateral plates, dorsal-fin terminus, base of adipose fin, and lateral surface of cleithrum, imparting slightly darker pigmentation than overall body color, especially in two specimens (MZUSP 123863, 36.7 mm SL, Fig. 2A, and MZUSP 123863, 38.0 mm SL), also with tiny irregular rows of specks of dark pigmentation along dorsolateral and ventrolateral plates. Caudal fin with three irregular, narrow vertical dark stripes, first at anterior third of fin, second at middle portion, and third slightly anterior to margin. Dorsal fin with irregular, inconspicuous dark stripe at mid-length. Some specimens (MZUSP 93534, ZUEC 16840; Fig. 2 B–C) with dark markings on fins almost inconspicuous. Remaining fins clear.
Color in life. Based on a picture of a specimen (MZUSP 115781, 28.0 mm SL, Fig. 3) taken in the field. Overall color light beige, greenish-copper hue on opercle and pectoral girdle, dorsolateral and ventrolateral plates behind dorsal fin slightly translucent. Dark markings as in preserved specimens.
Sexual dimorphism. Three male specimens (MZUSP 93534, 1, 33.1 mm SL; MZUSP 123863, 36.7 mm SL; ZUEC 16840, 1, 31.9 mm SL) with slightly elongated, lanceolated urogenital papilla, as other Corydoradinae (Britto, 2003: 82–83, fig. 23). Additionaly, males possess well-developed, numerous odontodes over lateral portions of head, pectoral girdle, and pectoral spines, especially developed at cheeks and opercle, while all females only possess small, scattered odontodes over lateral portions of head and pectoral girdle. Also, head profile of males somewhat more rounded than overall pointed head profile of females (compare Figs. 1, 2A, and 3 with 2B–C).
Distribution. Corydoras rikbaktsa is so far known from three localities, two of which are small tributaries of the rio Juína-Mirim west of the city of Juína, near the water divide with the rio Aripuanã (upper rio Madeira basin), and the third one a tributary of the rio Papagaio below the Cachoeira de Utiariti. All known localities are in the rio Juruena basin (rio Tapajós basin), Mato Grosso, Brazil (Fig. 7).
Habitat notes. The type-locality, the rio Juininha, is a clearwater river with sandy banks where the specimens were collected (F.C.P. Dagosta, pers. comm.). The locality at the rio Papagaio basin, the rio Buriti, is a mid-sized clearwater river (approximately 6–8 meters wide,> 2.0 meters deep at the deepest portions) with strong current in its channel, near its mouth with the rio Papagaio. Corydoras rikbaktsa were exclusively collected at this site along a small, shallow sandy shore.
Etymology. The specific name honors the Rikbaktsa (also known as Rikbakta or Erikbaktsa), a Jê-speaking indian nation, who formerly inhabited the area between the rio Juruena and rio Aripuanã in northern Mato Grosso. Their first contacts with the western world happened when they clashed and fought rubber-tappers encroaching on their territories during the 1940´s and 1950´s. They were subsequently contacted by Jesuit priests (and almost completely wiped out by contagious diseases) during the 1960´s. During the 1990´s the Rikbaktsa finally obtained the demarcation of three non-contiguous lands (Hemming, 2003).
description: Published as part of Lima, Flávio C. T. & Britto, Marcelo R., 2020, A new Corydoras (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) with an unusual sexual dimorphism from the rio Juruena basin, Brazil, pp. 518-530 in Zootaxa 4742 (3) on pages 519-527, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4742.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3678003