Brazilian ichthyologists have described a new species of Leporinus tetra from the Xingu River drainage.
Jos Birindelli and Heraldo Britski described Leporinus guttatus in the most recent issue of the journal Neotropical Ichthyology.
The new species is distinguished from congeners in having eight to ten midlateral round dark blotches plus 20 to 40 smaller ones scattered over the body, dental formula 3/4, subinferior to inferior mouth, 37 to 38 lateral line scales, 4/3"4 transversal series of scales, and 12 circumpeduncular scale series.
Leporinus guttatus, named for the spots on its body (Latin gutta=spot).
For more information, see the paper: Birindelli, JLO and HA Britski (2009) New species of the genus Leporinus Agassiz (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the rio Curu, rio Xingu basin, Serra do Cachimbo, Brazil, with comments on Leporinus reticulates. Neotropical Ichthyology 7, pp.