Myoglanis aspredinoides

description

Description. Morphometric data given in Table 1. Body greatly elongated (Fig. 1), depressed before dorsal fin, ellipsoidal at level of dorsal-fin origin and subquadrangular immediately in front of pelvic fin-origin, gradually more compressed caudally. Dorsal profile from snout margin to IO 1 pore convex, slightly concave in preorbital and interorbital regions, flat in postorbital region, slightly convex from occipital region to dorsal-fin origin, concave along dorsal-fin base and straight to caudal-fin base. Ventral profile of head slightly convex, nearly straight from posterior margin of branchiostegal membranes to end of anal-fin base, and sloping downward along caudal peduncle. Lateral profile of head parabolic in dorsal view with a weak constriction behind rictus delimiting snout. Head ~ 1.5 times longer than wide, dorsally covered by thick skin. Adductor mandibulae muscles prominent on cheeks and extending dorsally over skull roof posterior to eyes. Snout long and wide with dorsolateral groove accommodating maxillary barbel immediately posterior to its insertion and extending posteriorly to about midpoint of eye. Mouth terminal with fleshy, coarsely plicate lips and broad rict

Myoglanis aspredinoides (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae), a new catfish from the Río Ventuari, Venezuela.

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Myoglanis with 32 - 35 anal-fin rays (vs. 25 - 28 in M. koepckei and 16 - 21 in M. potaroensis); caudal fin lanceolate (vs. caudal fin bifurcated in M. koepckei and forked, divided to the base of the rays in M. potaroensis); anterior margin of pectoral spine with low, retrorse serrations only distally and without erect dentations along middle and proximal end of spine (vs. erect dentations present along entire anterior margin of pectoral spine in M. koepckei and M. potaroensis) and 56 - 57 vertebrae (vs. 47 in M. koepckei and 46 in M. potaroensis).

Myoglanis aspredinoides (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae), a new catfish from the Río Ventuari, Venezuela.

distribution

Distribution and habitat. Myoglanis aspredinoides is recorded only from the Rio Ventuari, a tributary of the upper Orinoco river basin in Venezuela, in stagnant pools formed by rocks and around 2 m of maximum depth, with clear waters and sandy and muddy bottom.

Myoglanis aspredinoides (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae), a new catfish from the Río Ventuari, Venezuela.

etymology

Etymology. The specific epithet makes allusion to the remarkable resemblance in external appearance of this species to species of the catfish genus Aspredo of the family Aspredinidae.

Myoglanis aspredinoides (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae), a new catfish from the Río Ventuari, Venezuela.