A New Species of Propimelodus (Pimelodidae) from the Upper Madeira System, Amazon Basin

Abstract

A new species of pimelodid catfish of the genus Propimelodus, diagnosed in this group by a long adipose fin and shorter spines on dorsal and pectoral fins, from the upper Madeira system in Bolivia is described. Propimelodus lobatus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the eye diameter (P. lobatus 20.6–24.8% of head length, 45.3–56% of snout length and 114–153.1% of posterior nostril–eye distance vs. 29.7–34.8% of head length and 62.7–74.7% of snout length in P. araguayae, 30.7–44.1% of snout length and 70.4–114% of posterior nostril–eye distance in P. caesius, and 9.6–19.8% of head length, 17.2–37.9% of snout length and 36–90% of posterior nostril-eye distance in P. eigenmanni), total number of gills rakers on first branchial arch (P. lobatus 30–34 vs. 20–23 in P. caesius and 19–20 in P. eigenmanni), anal fin lobe present in P. lobatus (vs. absent in P. caesius and P. eigenmanni), total number of vertebrae (P. lobatus 42–44 vs. 46–48 in P. caesius and 45–46 in P. eigenmanni). This species may potentially be distributed throughout the Madeira River, other parts of the Amazon basin, and the Orinoco basin.