Brazilian scientists have described a new species of chilodontid tetra from Brazil.
The new species, named Caenotropus schizodon by Alexandre Scharchansky and Carlos de Lucena, is known from the Tapajs River drainage (part of the Amazon River drainage).
The description of the new species was published in a recent issue of the journal Zootaxa and its specific name (Greek: schize=divided, odons=teeth) refers to the bifid premaxillary teeth characteristic of this species.
Caenotropus schizodon can be distinguished from other members of the genus in having bifid premaxillary teeth, the absence of teeth in the lower jaw, distal portions of the anterior dorsal-fin rays dusky, a distinct midlateral stripe extending from the snout to the base of the caudal fin, and 28"30 lateral line scales.
Caenotropus schizodon is thought to be most closely related to C. labyrinthicus.
There are three other species of Caenotropus: C. labyrinthicus, widely distributed in the Amazon Orinoco, upper Essequibo, Saramaca, Suriname and Parnaba river drainages; C. maculosus from the Guianas, and C. mestomorgmatos from the middle Rio Negro, and upper Orinoco River drainage.
For more information, see the paper: Scharchansky, A and CAS de Lucena (2007) Caenotropus schizodon, a new chilodontid fish from the Rio Tapajos drainage, Brazil (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Chilodontidae). Zootaxa 1557, 59"66.