Abstract:
The genus Scleromystax includes species occurring
in several coastal river basins from southern Bahia
to southern Santa Catarina States. Examination of
Scleromystax specimens sampled from the laguna
dos Patos drainage revealed a new taxon, further extending
the distribution of the genus to the southern border
of the Atlantic forest. The new species (S. reisi)
differs from its congeners by the second infraorbital
ventrally expanded. It is also distinct, except from
S.
macropterus and S.
salmacis , by roughly
oblique, elongate, dark brown blotches along body;
large specimens displaying cranial fontanel completely
occluded, leaving just a shallow fossae; and sexually
dimorphic features inconspicuous, i.e. preopercular
(cheek) region similar in males and females, and dorsal
and pectoral fins of males slightly longer than in
females. Herein, we also extend the record of Scleromystax
salmacis to the Rio Tramandaí drainage,
(Britto et al. 2016).Lineage:
All Scleromystax species belong to Lineage
3 and would remain as Scleromystax (Günther,
1864) with the designated type species of Scleromystaxbarbatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824). As
of the latest update (Dias
et al 2024), Scleromystaxreisi has been placed in Lineage 3
and has retained the genus name of Scleromystax.
Aquarium Care: As
with most members of the Callichthyidaethey
are peaceful. The Scleromystax genera are
good additions to "cool water" aquarium
set ups with maybe other cool water fish such as White
Cloud Mountain Minnows and other fish that are comfortable
with a temperature around the 70°f (21.5°c)
mark. Diet: As with other members
of the Corydoradinae they relish tablet and good quality
flake food with frozen bloodworm a firm favourite.
They are also keen on chopped earthworms and other
worm foods such as white worm used sparingly, and
grindal worm. Etymology: The specific
name reisi: In honor of Brazilian ichthyologist
Roberto E. Reis, Pontificia Universidade Católica
do Rio Grande do Sul, for his many contributions to
neotropical ichthyology, including studies of callichthyid
fishes.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Callichthyidae
Distribution:
South America:Laguna dos Patos drainage, Rio Grande do
Sul, Brazil.
Scleromystax
reisi
Holotype, male-arroio Demétrio, Morungava, Gravataí,
RS, Brazil
Scleromystax
reisi Paratype, female-Estação
Experimental Agronômica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
do Sul, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.