Hoplias cazumba, Abreu & Silva Pedroza & Oyakawa & de Araújo Melo & Tchaicka & Piorski, 2025

Abreu, João Marcelo S., Silva Pedroza, Wellington, Oyakawa, Osvaldo T., de Araújo Melo, Solange, Tchaicka, Ligia & Piorski, Nivaldo Magalhães, 2025, A new species of Hoplias malabaricus species complex (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from Northeastern Brazil, Evolutionary Systematics 9 (1), pp. 135-143 : 135-143

Hoplias cazumba sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , Tables 1 , 2

Hoplias malabaricus – Piorski 2010: Pag 63 [genetic diversity and phylogeography].

Type materials.

Holotype: Brazil • MZUSP 130388 , 193.43 mm SL; Maranhão, municipality of Chapadinha, Povoado Cedro , Munim River basin; 03°51'34"S, 43°19'33"W; 27 Nov. 2010; J. S. Nunes leg.

Paratypes: Brazil – Maranhão • MZUSP 130389 , 6, 141.61 – 214.78 mm SL; municipality of Chapadinha, Povoado Cedro , Munim River basin; collected with holotype . • MCP 55320 , 10 , 152.32 – 240.83 mm SL; municipality of Chapadinha, Povoado Cedro , Munim River basin; 03°51'34"S, 43°19'33"W, 25 May 2011, J. S. Nunes leg.

Non-types: Brazil – Maranhão • CPUFMA 2121 , 3, 152.4– 284.17 mm, SL; municipality of Chapadinha, Povoado Cedro , Munim River basin; 03°51'34"S, 43°19'33"W, 7 to 8 Jul. 2011, J. S. Nunes leg. • CPUFMA 1600 , 9; municipality of Chapadinha, Povoado Cedro , Munim River basin; 03°51'34"S, 43°19'33"W, 25 May 2011, J. S. Nunes leg.

Diagnosis.

Hoplias cazumba is distinguished from other species, except H. malabaricus species-group by medial margins of contralateral dentaries converging to midline forming a V or Y-shaped angle in ventral view. H. cazumba can be distinguished from H. malabaricus by the number of dorsal-fin rays (11–13 vs. 14), number of caudal-fin rays (15 vs. 14–15), number of lateral-line scales (39–41; mode 40 vs. 38–39) and the number of scales around caudal peduncle (19–22 vs. 18). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. teres by the number of pre-dorsal scales (15–17 vs. 18), number of scales around caudal peduncle (19–22 vs. 18), number of vertebrae (39–41 vs. 42), greater snout length (25.3 % – 29.8 % vs. 21.9–23.1 % of HL), lower snout width (21.4 % – 26.8 % vs. 29.4 % – 29.5 % of HL) and lower snout depth (14.8 % – 21.1 % vs. 24.4 % – 26.6 % of HL). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. microlepis by the number of pre-dorsal scale (15–17; mode 15 vs. 17–19), number of lateral-line scales (39–41 vs. 43–47), longitudinal series of scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin (4–5 vs. 5.5–6.5), number of scales around caudal peduncle (19–22; mode 20 vs. 22–24), and the number of vertebrae (39–41 vs. 42–45), also, lower caudal peduncle length (8.3 % – 12.2 % vs. 12.4 % – 16 % of SL) and lower snout depth (14.8 % – 21.1 % vs. 22.9 % – 29.2 % of HL). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. mbigua by the number of lateral-line scales (39–41 vs. 42–43), number of vertebrae (39–41 vs. 42) and a greater anal-fin (15.2 % – 18.9 % vs. 11.9 % – 16.6 % of SL) and dorsal-fin length (28.5 % – 33.4 % vs. 14.6 % – 19.1 % of SL). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. misionera by the number of dorsal-fin rays (11–13 vs. 14–16), number of caudal-fin rays (15 vs. 15–18), greater snout length (25.2–29.8 % vs. 20.5–24.7 % of HL) and pre-nasal length (16 % – 20.2 % vs. 12.5 % – 16.2 % of HL). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. argentinensis by the number of anal-fin rays (8–10; mode 9 vs. 7–8), number of caudal-fin rays (15 vs. 17–19), number of pre-dorsal scale (15–17; mode 15 vs. 17–19) and number of vertebrae (39–41 vs. 42–43). Hoplias cazumba can be distinguished from H. auri by the number of anal-fin rays (8–10; mode 9 vs. 7–8), number of caudal-fin rays (15 vs. 12–15) and number of lateral-line scales (39–41; mode 40 vs. 37–39).

Description.

Morphometric and meristic data are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 . Body cylindrical. Anterior profile of head angular to slightly rounded in lateral view. Dorsal profile of head straight or slightly convex. Greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Medial margins of contralateral dentaries converging to midline forming a V or Y-shaped angle in ventral view. Upper jaw shorter than lower jaw. Lower and upper lips fleshy. Only anterior nostril with incomplete tubular skin flap covering its whole opening. Posterior nostril equidistant to the anterior nostril and the anterior margin of orbit. Infraorbitals 3 and 4 completely excluded from orbital ring.

Conical and caniniform teeth in both jaws covered by lips skin the largest with skin flaps of the same shape covering its labial and lingual faces. Premaxillary teeth row divided in two sections. The first section starts with the larger canine, followed by two decreasing in size teeth, to reach a gap The second starts with three increasing in size teeth, followed by two decreasing in size. A single row of maxillary bone teeth, the first five increasing in size, followed by 45 smaller. Posterior portion of the maxilla with a large dorsal projection.

Two rows of dentary teeth. The first one with five small teeth displayed in a more lingual position, leaving a free space ahead, between teeth and lips to fit the larger symphyseal premaxillary tooth. Following, the two largest teeth of lower jaw, the largest onefits in the premaxillary gap, trespassing the bone to reach a foramen. After, five small teeth of equal size in a more lingual position leave a free space ahead, to fit the larger tooth of premaxillary Than, a sequence of eight teeth alternating in size. The second row is an aligned sequence of 22 same size small teeth in a more lingual position starting right next to the first row end. Buccal face of accessory ectopterygoid and ectopterygoid with series of small conical teeth aligned along anterior edge and many smaller villiform teeth in a patch covering the bone surfaces.

Dorsal-fin origin placed at midbody 2–3 scales anterior to vertical through pelvic fin origin. Dorsal-fin rays i- 12 (1), i- 13 (1), ii- 11 (2), ii- 12 * (14) or ii- 13 (2), [mode: ii, 12]. Tip of longest ray of depressed dorsal fin extending at or slightly beyond vertical through anus. Anal-fin rays i- 8 (1), i- 9 * (11), i- 10 (2), ii- 8 (3) or ii- 9 (3), [mode: i, 9]. Pectoral-fin rays i- 11 (1), i- 12 (2), ii- 10 (1), ii- 11 * (6), ii- 12 (9) or ii- 13 (1), [mode: ii, 12]. The tip of pectoral fin separated from pelvic-fin origin 3 (2), 4 * (10), or 5 (8) scales, [mode: 4]. Pelvic-fin rays i- 7 * (18), i- 8 (1) or ii- 6 (1), [mode: i, 7]. Tip of pelvic fin separated from vertical through anus by 3 (3), 4 (5), 5 * (8) or 6 (3) scales, [mode: 5]. Total caudal-fin rays 17 (i- 15 - i). Pre-dorsal scales 15 * (15), 16 (3) or 17 (2) in irregular series, [mode: 15].

Lateral line with 39 (8), 40 * (10) or 41 (2) perforated scales, [mode: 40], with 1 or 2 unperforated scales anteriorly and located beneath opercle membrane. Longitudinal series of scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 4 (1), 5 * (16) or 6 (3), [mode: 5]. Longitudinal series of scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin 4 (6) or 5 * (14), [mode: 5]. Longitudinal series of scales around caudal peduncle 19 (3), 20 * (14), 21 (2) or 22 (1), [mode: 20]. Latero-sensory canal along ventral surface of dentary with four (19) pores. Latero-sensory canal with 5 (3) or 6 * (17) pores in preopercle, [mode: 6]. Latero-sensory canal along infraorbitals with 10 (2), 11 * (14) or 12 (4) pores, [mode: 11]. Infraorbital 1: 2 (2) or 3 * (18) pores, [mode: 3], infraorbital 2: 2 (1) or 3 * (19) pores, [mode: 3], infraorbital 3: 1 * (20) pore, infraorbital 4: 1 * (20) pore, infraorbital 5 lacking pores and infraorbital 6 with 3 * (16) or 4 (4) pores, [mode: 3]. Latero-sensory system of dorsal surface of head with 9 (1), 10 * (11), 11 (6) or 12 (2) pores, [mode: 10]. Nasal bone: 2 * (19) or 3 (1) pores, [mode: 2], frontal bone: 3 (1), 4 * (18) or 5 (1) pores, [mode: 4], pterotic bone: 1 * (11) or 2 (8) pores, [mode: 1]. One pore between parietal bones, on the posterior end of suture. Total vertebrae 39 (4), 40 * (6) or 41 (1), [mode: 40].

Color in alcohol.

Ground coloration of head and body dark to light brown, darker dorsally and paler ventrally. Approximately five to six lateral chevron-shaped blotches, irregularly spaced with distance between subsequent blotches gradually decreasing towards caudal peduncle. Some specimens have a completely dark head and others have a darker dorsal part than the ventral part. Patch of dark brown pigmentation covering entire mid-ventral of opercular bone. Latero-ventral surface of dentaries with transverse brown bands or blotches. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins light brown, lighter than body, with dark spots on rays and interradial membranes forming pattern of irregular dark stripes. Pectoral and pelvic fins with dark spots or a dark brown roundish spot covering almost the entire fin, darker than body.

Distribution.

Hoplias cazumba is only known from the Munim River basin, in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern of Brazil (Fig. 4 ).

Habitat.

The village of Cedro is located about 15 km from the center of Chapadinha, on the banks of the Munim River. In this location, the surrounding vegetation is mainly composed of medium-sized trees and shrubs, such as Senna alata , Inga sp. , Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia , Ipomea sp. , Astrocaryum ssp., Bactris spp. and Orbignya spp.

Etymology.

The specific name cazumba , a noun in apposition, refers to the Cazumba, a mythical creature of the bumba-meu-boi, a Maranhão folklore character. The Cazumba is a character represented by a mythical creature with a big and strange head, that protects the nature. The word cazumba has its origins in the word cazumbi from the Kimbundu linguistic group and means little spirit.

Figures

Figure 1. Hoplias cazumba, holotype, MZUSP 130388, 193.43 mm SL, Povoado Cedro, Munim River basin, municipality of Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil.

Figure 2. Details of head of Hoplias cazumba sp. nov. a. Ventral view of dentary of holotype; b, c. S & C individual showing details of tooths.

Figure 3. Morphological variation observed in paratypes of Hoplias cazumba sp. nov. From top to bottom: MZUSP 130389 the first two specimens and MCP 55320 all the rest.

Figure 4. Distribution of Hoplias cazumba from Munim River, Maranhão State, Brazil. Star: type locality.