A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil

We describe Hoplias maranhensis, a new species within the Hoplias malabaricus species-group from Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished by a unique combination of morphological, morphometric, and osteological traits, including 14–16 predorsal scales, 37–40 lateral-line scale...

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Main Authors: Karen L. A. Guimarães, Juan J. Rosso, Mariano González-Castro, Sarah J. do Nascimento Andrade, Pâmella S. Brito, Erick C. Guimarães, Juan M. Díaz de Astarloa, Luís R. R. Rodrigues
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Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-08-01
Series:Zoosystematics and Evolution
Online Access:https://zse.pensoft.net/article/155287/download/pdf/
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author Karen L. A. Guimarães
Juan J. Rosso
Mariano González-Castro
Sarah J. do Nascimento Andrade
Pâmella S. Brito
Erick C. Guimarães
Juan M. Díaz de Astarloa
Luís R. R. Rodrigues
author_facet Karen L. A. Guimarães
Juan J. Rosso
Mariano González-Castro
Sarah J. do Nascimento Andrade
Pâmella S. Brito
Erick C. Guimarães
Juan M. Díaz de Astarloa
Luís R. R. Rodrigues
author_sort Karen L. A. Guimarães
collection DOAJ
description We describe Hoplias maranhensis, a new species within the Hoplias malabaricus species-group from Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished by a unique combination of morphological, morphometric, and osteological traits, including 14–16 predorsal scales, 37–40 lateral-line scales, 39–40 vertebrae, a straight line formed by the last vertical series of scales at the base of the caudal-fin rays, and a marked ridge on the posterior angular end of the ascending process of the premaxilla. Osteologically, H. maranhensis presents the first proximal pterygiophore of the dorsal fin widely bifurcated in a “V”-shaped configuration. H. maranhensis also exhibits differences in the articulation pattern of principal caudal-fin rays with lower hypural bones, and postcleithrum 1 exhibits an anterior expansion that is in contact or nearly in contact with postcleithrum 2. The number of predorsal scales (14–16) differentiates H. maranhensis from H. argentinensis (17–19), H. microlepis (17–19), and H. teres (18). Likewise, the lateral-line scale count (37–40) and vertebrae count (39–40) distinguish the new species from H. argentinensis (41–44; 42–43), H. teres (40–41; 42), H. microlepis (43–46; 42–43), and H. mbigua (41–44; 42). Morphometric traits, such as interlandmark distances 3–5, 1–3, 2–3, 7–10, 8–10, and 9–10, further differentiate H. maranhensis from other species in the group. Genetic analysis based on DNA barcoding revealed close affinity with H. malabaricus and H. auri (3.0% divergence), followed by H. mbigua (6.0%) and H. microlepis (7.0%). Among the H. malabaricus species-group, the most divergent taxa were H. misionera and H. argentinensis (9.0%). This integrative taxonomic approach supports the recognition of H. maranhensis as a distinct taxon.
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spelling doaj-art-de54d1919e0945ccafac151fce6cc7fb2025-08-20T03:36:34ZengPensoft PublishersZoosystematics and Evolution1860-07432025-08-0110141471149310.3897/zse.101.155287155287A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, BrazilKaren L. A. Guimarães0Juan J. Rosso1Mariano González-Castro2Sarah J. do Nascimento Andrade3Pâmella S. Brito4Erick C. Guimarães5Juan M. Díaz de Astarloa6Luís R. R. Rodrigues7Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (UFOPA)Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasUniversidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (UFOPA)Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA)Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (UFOPA)Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataUniversidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (UFOPA)We describe Hoplias maranhensis, a new species within the Hoplias malabaricus species-group from Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished by a unique combination of morphological, morphometric, and osteological traits, including 14–16 predorsal scales, 37–40 lateral-line scales, 39–40 vertebrae, a straight line formed by the last vertical series of scales at the base of the caudal-fin rays, and a marked ridge on the posterior angular end of the ascending process of the premaxilla. Osteologically, H. maranhensis presents the first proximal pterygiophore of the dorsal fin widely bifurcated in a “V”-shaped configuration. H. maranhensis also exhibits differences in the articulation pattern of principal caudal-fin rays with lower hypural bones, and postcleithrum 1 exhibits an anterior expansion that is in contact or nearly in contact with postcleithrum 2. The number of predorsal scales (14–16) differentiates H. maranhensis from H. argentinensis (17–19), H. microlepis (17–19), and H. teres (18). Likewise, the lateral-line scale count (37–40) and vertebrae count (39–40) distinguish the new species from H. argentinensis (41–44; 42–43), H. teres (40–41; 42), H. microlepis (43–46; 42–43), and H. mbigua (41–44; 42). Morphometric traits, such as interlandmark distances 3–5, 1–3, 2–3, 7–10, 8–10, and 9–10, further differentiate H. maranhensis from other species in the group. Genetic analysis based on DNA barcoding revealed close affinity with H. malabaricus and H. auri (3.0% divergence), followed by H. mbigua (6.0%) and H. microlepis (7.0%). Among the H. malabaricus species-group, the most divergent taxa were H. misionera and H. argentinensis (9.0%). This integrative taxonomic approach supports the recognition of H. maranhensis as a distinct taxon.https://zse.pensoft.net/article/155287/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Karen L. A. Guimarães
Juan J. Rosso
Mariano González-Castro
Sarah J. do Nascimento Andrade
Pâmella S. Brito
Erick C. Guimarães
Juan M. Díaz de Astarloa
Luís R. R. Rodrigues
A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
Zoosystematics and Evolution
title A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
title_full A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
title_fullStr A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
title_short A new species of Hoplias (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Maranhão State, western Northeast Atlantic basin, Brazil
title_sort new species of hoplias characiformes erythrinidae from the maranhao state western northeast atlantic basin brazil
url https://zse.pensoft.net/article/155287/download/pdf/
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