A new species of Loricaria is herein described from the Turiaçu River basin, Eastern Amazon region, Maranhão state, Brazil, within the Maranhão Hydrological Unit (MHU). Loricaria turi differs from its congeners mainly by the following combination of characters: abdominal plate development confined to the posterior median region, pectoral girdle mostly naked, with cluster of plates near pectoral fin bases; large eyes (minimum orbital diameter 16.2–20.7% of HL and maximum orbital diameter 19.8–24.0% of HL), 214.4 mm of maximum standard length, and large basicaudal plate (16.6–29.2% of HL). The description of this new species strengthens the hypothesis that the Maranhão Hydrological Unit (MHU) is a possible area of endemism for freshwater fishes and contributes to the knowledge of the freshwater fish diversity and composition of the region.
O mero Epinephelus itajara é uma espécie ameaçada atualmente classificada como Vulnerável (VU) de acordo com a Lista Vermelha da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN) e Criticamente em Perigo (CR) na Lista Vermelha Brasileira do Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). Uma pesquisa utilizando as mídias digitais como base para a obtenção de dados sobre essa espécie mostrou que existe uma pesca contínua desse animal no litoral do Estado do Maranhão, mesmo protegido pela legislação nacional. Além disso, as mídias digitais têm um grande potencial para serem utilizadas como uma ferramenta de inspeção ambiental e uma importante estratégia para identificar áreas de captura e locais de desembarque de espécies ameaçadas, como o Epinephelus itajara.ABSTRACTThe Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara is one of the largest species in the Serranidae family. E. itajara is an endangered species currently categorized as Vulnerable (VU) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (IUCN) and Critically Endangered (CR) on the Brazilian Red List of the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). A survey using digital media as a basis for obtaining data on this species showed that there is a continuous fishing of this animal across the coast of the Maranhão State, even protected by national legislation. In addition, digital media have great potential to be used as an environmental inspection tool and an important strategy for identifying capture areas and landing places of threatened species such as Epinephelus itajara.
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