Rivulus berovidesi

description

Description. Morphometric and meristic data for holotype and 22 paratypes are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Largest examined male 37.9 mm SL; largest examined female 38.0 mm SL. Body subcylindrical anteriorly and compressed posteriorly. Dorsal profile slightly convex from the snout to the posterior base of dorsal fin. Ventral profile slightly convex from the lower jaw to the anal fin origin. Both paired and impaired fins rounded and without filaments. Dorsal fin origin above base of the 5 th or 6 th anal fin ray. Pectoral fins inserted behind to the posterior margin of opercles. Pelvic fins are the smallest, reaching anus. Dorsal fin rays 6 – 9, caudal fin rays 15 – 19, anal fin rays 8 – 11, pelvic fin rays 4 – 6 and pectoral fin rays 11 – 14. Body and head entirely scaled with cycloid scales. Longitudinal series of scales 34 – 37, transverse series of scales 9, pre-dorsal scales 21 – 25. Frontal scalation is d - type pattern. Males of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. are yellow and orange ventrally, whereas females are less colored. Figure 3 shows sexual dimorphism in this species, which includes differences in color of body and fins as well as females characterized by a distinctive ocell

Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western Cuba

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Both males and females of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. are readily distinguished from Rivulus cylindraceus by the presence of a dark lateral band situated longitudinally along the lateral line, extended from the posterior margin of the eye to the base of the caudal fin (versus a lack of this dark lateral band in Rivulus cylindraceus). Dorsal fin slightly shifted to the caudal peduncle in relation to the origin of anal fin (1 – 3 mm) when compared to Rivulus cylindraceus. Frontal scalation pattern in Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is d - type versus e - type pattern in Rivulus cylindraceus (Fig. 2)

Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western Cuba

distribution

Distribution and habitat. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is known only from northwest mountain system in Pinar del Rio province. Particularly, in Sierra de Cajalbana (type locality) and Rio Camarones. Both localities are situated in northwestern Cuba (Fig. 1). This species inhabits small mountain streams with a depth of 30 – 70 cm approximately and bottom substrate basically composed by stones, sand and dead leaves (Fig. 7). There is not aquatic vegetation in the area. The streams are clear with pH 7.5 and water temperature 24 ° C. Other freshwater fish collected together with Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. were: Gambusia punctata, Girardinus uninotatus, Girardinus creolus, Girardinus microdactylus, Nandopsis tetracanthus, Agonostomus monticola and Gobiomorus dormitor.

Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western Cuba

etymology

Etymology. The specific name of this new species is given in honor to the Professor Vicente Berovides Alvarez, professor at the Faculty of Biology, Universidad de la Habana, Cuba in recognition of his life-long dedication and contribution to train several generations of new researchers in biological sciences.

Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western Cuba