Brazilian scientists have described a new species of Pimelodus catfish from the upper Paraguay River drainage in central Brazil.
The description of the new species, named Pimelodus pantaneiro by Hugo de Souza-Filho and Oscar Shibatta, is published in the latest issue of the journal Iheringia. Srie Zoologia.
The new species is distinguished from other members of the genus except P. maculatus and P. mysteriosus in having a pattern of brown spots on the sides of the body.
Pimelodus pantaneiro is distinguished from P. maculatus in having a more robust supraoccipital process (base as broad as long vs. longer than broad), anterior nostrils 25% of distance between the margin of snout to posterior nostrils (vs. 33% of this distance), the pectoral spine with stronger serrations present in more than half the anterior margin of the spine (versus weaker serrations present in less than half the margin), presence of conspicuous grooves on the surface of the head (vs. absence), and 22"27 (mode=24) gill rakers in the first branchial arch . The new species differs from P. mysteriosus in having shorter maxillary barbels (not reaching vs. reaching beyond the adipose fin).
The new species is known only from the upper Paraguay River drainage, and is named after the region where it is found (Pantanal).
For more information, see the paper: Souza-Filho, HS de and OA Shibatta (2007) Descrio de uma espcie nova de Pimelodus (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) da bacia do alto rio Paraguai . Iheringia. Srie Zoologia 97, pp. 472"480 .