Subgenus Hypsolebias Costa, 2006

Hypsolebias Costa, 2006b: 17 (type species: Cynolebias flavicaudatus ^ZBK Costa & Brasil; type by original designation).

Diagnosis

Distinguished from the other subgenera of Simpsonichthys ^ZBK in having the second pharyngobranchial longer than wide (vs. wider than long). Another synapomorphy of Hypsolebias is the presence of a shortened lateroventral process of the hyomandibula, which independently occurs in some species of Spectrolebias (vs. wide process).

Included species

Simpsonichthys ocellatus ^ZBK Costa, Nielsen & De Luca, S. stellatus (Costa & Brasil), S. nielseni ^ZBK Costa, S. rufus ^ZBK Costa, Nielsen & De Luca, S. notatus (Costa, Lacerda & Brasil), S. radiosus ^ZBK Costa & Brasil, S. similis ^ZBK Costa & Hellner, S. gibberatus Costa & Brasil, S. trilineatus (Costa & Brasil), S. auratus ^ZBK Costa & Nielsen, S. virgulatus Costa & Brasil, S. hellneri (Berkenkamp), S. adornatus ^ZBK Costa, S. fulminantis (Costa & Brasil), S. carlettoi ^ZBK Costa & Nielsen, S. magnificus (Costa & Brasil), S. picturatus ^ZBK Costa, S. antenori (Tulipano), S. igneus ^ZBK Costa, S. macaubensis Costa & Suzart, S. ghisolfii ^ZBK Costa, Cyrino & Nielsen, S. mediopapillatus Costa, S. flavicaudatus (Costa & Brasil), S. flagellatus ^ZBK Costa, S. janaubensis Costa, S. marginatus ^ZBK Costa & Brasil, S. delucai ^ZBK Costa, S. alternatus (Costa & Brasil), S. multiradiatus (Costa & Brasil), S. flammeus (Costa), and S. brunoi ^ZBK Costa.

Distribution

Central and northeastern Brazil, including the upper and middle rio Tocantins basin, middle rio São Francisco basin, lower rio Jaguaribe basin and adjacent coastal basins, and middle rio Jequitinhonha.

Key to species groups of the subgenus Hypsolebias

1a. Frontal squamation E-patterned.............................................................................................................3

1b. Frontal squamation F-patterned........................................................................ S. notatus species group

2a(1a). Flank with unbroken conspicuous dark gray bars in females................................................................3

2b(1a). Flank with dark gray inconspicuous broken bars or spots in females................................. S. magnificus species group

3a(2a). Anal fin long, spatula-shaped in females; no spots on caudal peduncle in females................................ ....................................................................................................................... S. flammeus species group

3b(2a). Anal fin short, semi-circular in females; black spots on caudal peduncle in females............................. ......................................................................................................................... S. antenori species group