Gymnotus capitimaculatus, a new species of electric fish from rio Jucuruçu basin, northeastern Brazil (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae)

Abstract

A new species of Gymnotus, from the G. pantherinus species-group, is herein described from the rio Jucuruçu basin, a coastal river drainage located in the southern part of Bahia state, northeastern Brazil. Gymnotus capitimaculatus sp. n. differs from all congeners by having an pair of round blotches anteriorly positioned or under vertical passing through eye, on ventral portion of the head. Furthermore, Gymnotus capitimaculatus also differs from all members of the G. pantherinus species-group by having the following unique combination of characters states: tail with an unique series of bands or round spots; precaudal portion of trunk without bands but either with rounded and/or vermiculated spots; forty-five precaudal vertebrae; nine scales above lateral line at mid-body; anal-fin base length 75.2 – 78.6 % of TL; anus-anal fin length 101.4 – 122.8 % of HL; and branchial opening 38.5 – 45.0 % of HL.