taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D687EFFFF21463FF44FF7CD83CB966.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Moenkhausia lepidura can be distinguished from all congeners, except M. abyss, M. celibela, M. gracilima, M. hasemani, M. hysterosticta, M. icae, M. inrai, M. lata, M. megalops, M. mikia, and M. loweae, by having a dark blotch on the upper caudal-fin lobe, and lower lobe hyaline (vs. caudal lobes hyaline or with a black blotch on both lobes). Moenkhausia lepidura is distinguished from all the aforementioned species by the arrangement of the predorsal scales, which consists of two median series from the tip of supraocciptal spine followed by one medial series reaching the dorsal-fin origin (Fig. 5) (vs. one median series from the supraocciptal spine to the dorsal-fin origin). The pigmentation of the caudal fin also helps to recognize M. lepidura among the species above, which is black, extending from middle caudal-fin rays to the upper lobe (vs. upper caudal-fin lobe pigmentation not as dark; when black, not located on middle caudal-fin rays).	en	Marinho, Manoela M. F., Langeani, Francisco (2016): Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with a key to the species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa 4107 (3): 338-352, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.3.3
03D687EFFFF21463FF44FF7CD83CB966.taxon	description	Description. Morphometrics in Table 1. Largest specimen examined 84.0 mm SL. Body compressed, greatest body depth slightly ahead of vertical through dorsal-fin origin. Dorsal profile of body convex from upper lip to nares; straight from nares to tip of supraoccipital spine; convex from supraoccipital spine to dorsal-fin origin; straight to slightly convex along dorsal-fin base; straight to slightly convex from posterior terminus of dorsal-fin base to adipose-fin origin; slightly concave along caudal peduncle. Ventral profile of body convex from tip of lower jaw to pelvic-fin origin; straight from pelvic-fin origin to anal-fin origin; straight along anal-fin base and slightly concave along caudal peduncle. Mouth terminal; upper jaw slightly ahead lower jaw. Premaxillary teeth in two rows, outer with 3 (3), 4 * (85) or 5 (10) tricuspid teeth, inner with 5 * (97) or 6 (1) tetra- to pentacuspid teeth (Fig. 4). Maxilla extending posteriorly to vertical through anterior margin of eye, with 1 (60) or 2 * (38) tricuspid teeth. Dentary with four pentacuspid teeth and a series of 6 – 9 very small conical or tricuspid teeth. Pectoral-fin rays i * (98), 12 (10), 13 * (67), 14 (19), or 15 (2), their tips not reaching pelvic-fin origin. Pelvicfin rays i, 7 * (98), their tips reaching or just anterior to anal-fin origin. Anal-fin rays iv (1) or v (6), 20 (13), 21 * (29), 22 (42), 23 (11), 24 (1) or 25 (1); last unbranched and first three or four branched anal-fin rays much longer then remaining rays. Four supraneurals, all rod-shaped, with bony lamellae in upper portion. Dorsal-fin rays ii, 9 * (98), first unbranched dorsal-fin ray almost half length of second unbranched ray. Dorsal-fin origin slightly posterior to vertical through pelvic-fin origin; base of last dorsal-fin ray anterior to vertical through anal-fin origin. Adipose-fin origin approximately at vertical through base of 16 th to 19 th branched anal-fin rays. Caudal-fin rays i * (98), 16 (1), 17 * (96), or 18 (2), i * (98). Caudal fin forked; lobes of similar size. Dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays 11 (3) or 12 (4), ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays 9 (3), 10 (2) or 11 (2). Lateral line completely pored, slightly curved ventrally, with 33 (4), 34 (15), 35 * (29), 36 (32), or 37 (5) perforated scales. Scales of anterior portion of predorsal area arranged in pairs, followed by a single median row of scales extending to dorsal-fin origin (Fig. 5). Longitudinal scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 5 * (95); longitudinal scale rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin 3 (2) or 4 * (60). Single row of 5 – 9 scales overlying base of anteriormost anal-fin rays. Scale rows around caudal peduncle 14 * (90). Small scales along first and second third of upper and lower caudal-fin lobes. Vertebrae 33 (5) or 34 (2). Four branchiostegal rays. Gill rakers on first gill arch 8 (4) or 9 (3) on epibranchial, 1 on intermediate cartilage, 9 (3) or 10 (4) on ceratobranchial, none (5) or 1 (2) on intermediate cartilage, and 2 (4) or 3 (3) on hypobranchial. Lateral base of gill rackers expanded, forming a small plate with small denticles extending to the posterior portion of the branchial arch (Fig. 7). Color in alcohol. Overall coloration yellow to brownish (Figs. 1, 2). Snout, jaws, and top of head with small dark chromatophores; infraorbitals and opercular areas with larger dark chromatophores. Dorsal portion of body dark. First three dorsal horizontal scale rows on body with slightly reticulated pattern, formed by scales bordered by dark pigment. Humeral spot small, vertically over two scale rows above lateral line, sometimes also over lateral line, and horizontally over second and third lateral-line scales. Dark line at horizontal septum, extending from humeral spot to middle caudal peduncle. Broad longitudinal dark band extending approximately from vertical to dorsal-fin origin to caudal-fin base, sometimes becoming a rounded faint blotch at caudal peduncle. Frequently, superficial pigmentation spread over longitudinal band, more concentrated at vertical through fifth to sixth lateralline scales, gradually becoming fainter towards caudal peduncle, extending vertically over two scale rows. Upper caudal-fin lobe and middle caudal-fin rays with continuous black mark, contrasting with whitish rounded area dorsally on anterior third of caudal-fin lobe; frequently, darker pigmentation limiting whitish area (Fig. 2 a). Some specimens with caudal-fin black mark restricted to ventral portion of upper lobe and middle rays (Fig. 2 b). Pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, anal, adipose fin and lower caudal-fin lobe with scattered dark chromatophores. Color in life. Based on photographs of freshly collected specimens (Fig. 3). Overall coloration silvery. Eye, dorsal and adipose fin orange. Pectoral, pelvic, anal fins, and lower caudal-fin lobe hyaline. Middle caudal-fin rays and distal portion of upper caudal-fin lobe black, proximal portion of upper lobe varying from yellow to red. Sexual dimorphism. Tiny bony spines distributed on distal portion of first seven pelvic-, and five longest anal-fin rays of mature males.	en	Marinho, Manoela M. F., Langeani, Francisco (2016): Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with a key to the species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa 4107 (3): 338-352, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.3.3
03D687EFFFF21463FF44FF7CD83CB966.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Moenkhausia lepidura is distributed in Amazonas lowlands, including rios Tocantins-Araguaia, Madeira, Negro and lower portions of the Tapajós and Trombetas. It is also distributed in the rio Orinoco basin.	en	Marinho, Manoela M. F., Langeani, Francisco (2016): Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura, with a key to the species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa 4107 (3): 338-352, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.3.3
