A new Brachyrhamdia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from Rio Japura basin, Brazil, with comments on its phylogenetic affinities, biogeography and mimicry in the genus

摘要

Brachyrhamdia thayeha is herein described as a new heptapterid species from Rio Japura, a left margin tributary of the Rio Solimoes, Amazonas basin, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from all its congeners by having a putative autapo-morphy: dark oblique stripe across the caudal peduncle, originating below the anterior half of adipose fin and ending at base of rays of ventral caudal-fin lobe. Brachyrhamdia thayeria is considered closely related to B. imitator and B. ram-barrani with which it shares a low vertebral number and absence of lateral stripe along trunk. The new species shares exclusively with B. rambarrani the presence of a dark conspicuous bar along the dorsolateral region of trunk, a putative synapomorphy. Brachyrhamdia are distributed in lowland regions of northern South America where they inhabit small streams with running waters. The new species appears to have a mimetic association with the syntopic callichthyid Cory-doras arcuatus. Herein, we argue in favor of the hypothesis that the interaction between species of Brachyrhamdia and Pimelodella or Corydoras is Mullerian mimicry.