Henrique R. Varella and Mark H. Sabaj Pérez
Abstract
Apistogramma kullanderi, new species, is described from the upper rio Curuá (Iriri-Xingu drainage) on Serra do Cachimbo, Pará, Brazil, and diagnosed by its maximum size of 79.7 mm SL (vs. 65.3 mm SL among wild-caught congeners); mature females having the unique combination of intense dark pigmentation continuous along base of dorsal fin and on ventral surfaces from gular region to anal-fin base; and mature males having a coarse, ir- regular pattern of dark spots and vermiculations on cheek and opercular series, and sides with 10-12 dark stripes, each stripe occupying proximal limits of adjacent scale rows and separated by paler region central to each scale. Apistogramma kullanderi is tentatively allocated to the A. regani lineage, although some characteristics (e. g., large body size) are more consistent with members the A. steindachneri lineage. Apistogramma kullanderi is endemic to an upland watershed isolated by large waterfalls and depauperate of cichlid diversity. Under those conditions, we speculate that ecological opportunities, reduced competition and sexual selection contributed to the evolution of large body size in A. kullanderi.
Quelle: Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 243-258 (Der vollständige Artikel ist kostenpflichtig.)