Description:
Steindachneridion scriptum differs from its
congeners by having the combination of the following
characters: supraoccipital process distant from anterior
nuchal plate by length of one orbital diameter; premaxillary
tooth plates united and with groove medially, slightly
curved and sharp in distal region; vomer with single
and oval shaped tooth plate; and 15 to 17 gill rakers
on first branchial arch. Head depth shorter than head
width (64.2 to 86.2%); and head width 21.1 to 26.0%
of SL. Orbit small 21.2 to 31.7% of interorbital distance
and 7.3 to 10.1% of HL; mouth large, its width 38.7
to 47.2% of HL. Lips thin, maxillary barbel long,
surpassing pectoral fin tip and reaching vertical
through dorsal-fin insertion. Caudal peduncle depth
32.0 to 41.5% of head length; caudal fin deeply notched;
upper lobe larger than lower; both tips slightly rounded.
Colouration: Ground colour displaying
body light greyish, abdomen whitish, with elongated
or striated black blotches and dark dots irregularly
scattered on head, trunk, rays and membrane fins.
Etymology: The specific name scriptum:
written, referring to black “scribbles”
(translation, i.e., elongated or striated blotches)
irregularly scattered on upper body.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Steindachneria
scripta, Steindachneridion scripta
Family:
Pimelodidae
Distribution:
South America:
Brazil, upper rio Paraná, and rio Uruguay basins.
Type Locality: Itaqui [Rio Grande
do Sul, Brazil].
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