Profundulus kreiseri, a New Species of Profundulidae (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes) From Northwestern Honduras

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-25-2012

Department

Biological Sciences

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

A new species of Profundulus, Profundulus kreiseri (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundilae), is decrobed from the Chamelecón and Ulúa Rivers in the northwestern Honduran highlands. Based on a phylogenetic analysis using cytochrome b and the presence of synapomorphic characters (dark humeral spot, a scaled preorbital region and between 32-34 vertebrae), this new species is placed in the subgenus Profundulus, which also includes Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae, Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus and Profundulus (Profundulatus) guatemalensis. Profundulus kreiseri can be distinguished form other members of the subgenus Profundulus by having less than half of its caudal fin densely scaled. Profundulus kreiseri can further be differentiated from Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae and Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus by the absence of rows of dark spots on its flanks. The new species can furhtern be differentiated from Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis by the presence of fewer caudal- and pectoral-fin rays. The new species is distinguished from congeners of the profundullid subgenus Tlaloc (viz., Profundulus (Tlaloc) hildebrandi, Profundulus (Tlaloc) labialis, Profundulus (Tlaloc) candalarius and Profundulus (Tlaloc) portillorum) by having a scaled preorbital region and a dark humeral spot. Profundulus kreiseri and Profundulus portillorum are the only two species of Profundulus that are endemic to the region south of the Motagua River drainage in southern Guatemala and northwestern Florida.

Publication Title

ZooKeys

Volume

227

First Page

49

Last Page

62

Link to Full Text

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