Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker  (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species

Abstract

The genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker consists of three species long recognized as: P. fasciatum (Linnaeus), P. tigrinum (Valenciennes), and P. corruscans (Spix & Agassiz), and five species recently recognized or described here: P. punctifer (Castelnau), P. reticulatum Eigenmann & Eigenmann, P. orinocoense n. sp., P. metaense n. sp., and P. magdaleniatum n. sp. The eight species form a monophyletic group with two clades that are supported by anatomical features (i.e., skeletal anatomy and myology). One clade (P. tigrinum and P. metaense) is restricted to the Orinoco and Amazon basins, and the other clade, comprised of the remaining six species, is found in the Guyanas, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraná basins. The species are diagnosed on the basis of body shape, color pattern (e.g., bars, loops, and spots), skeletal anatomy, and vertebral numbers. Pseudoplatystoma punctifer and P. tigrinum) are sympatric in the Amazon Basin, P. metaense and P. orinocoense in the Orinoco Basin, and P. corruscans and P. reticulatum, are sympatric in the Paraná. Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum (Magdalena basin) and P. fasciatum (Guyanas) each occur as the only species of Pseudoplatystoma in their respective individual ranges. Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum may be sympatric with the two other species in the Amazon Basin, but we have no records of them being captured together in the mainstream or tributaries. All eight species are used as food in both commercial and subsistence fishing, and there is a moderate–sized ornamental fish market for the young and juveniles. A key to adults of the eight species is included.

Detection of hybrids and genetic introgression in wild stocks of two catfish species (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae): The impact of hatcheries in Brazil

“…In some rivers of the Paraguay-Parana River Basin, both species can occur in sympatry (Buitrago-Suárez and Burr, 2007;Langeani et al, 2007). Although several ecological disturbances have constantly affected the wild populations in various localities, especially in the Parana River Basin (Mello et al, 2009), and despite the fact that F1 hybrids have extensively been farmed, posing significant risks to the natural environment, there is a lack of detailed biological studies on hybridisation events involving these species and assessment of artificial hybrid stocks and their impact on wild stocks.…”

Molecular identification of a cryptic species in the Amazonian predatory catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma (Bleeker, 1962) from Peru

“…This accidental admixture of two species under P. punctifer might have led Buitrago-Suarez and Burr (2007) to erroneously consider that P. fasciatum is not present in the Amazon but only restricted to the Guyanas, and to consider that only P. punctifer is present in the Amazon basin. This could account for why three independent molecular studies (Torrico et al 2009;Carvalho-Costa et al 2011;present study) were not able to genetically differentiate between P. fasciatum and the P. punctifer with black and white stripes (our cluster-1, and the most abundant in nature) described in Buitrago-Suarez and Burr (2007). From the available data, it appears that P. fasciatum might correspond to our cluster-1 and that the species described by Castelnau (1855) as Platystoma punctifer might correspond to our cluster-2 (Fig.…”

“…We collected all the specimens found with uncommon color pattern but only some specimens presenting the common pattern (see Buitrago-Suarez and Burr 2007). In doing so, we gave a higher representation to specimens with rare patterns in the sampling.…”

A preliminary inventory of the catfishes of the lower Rio Nhamundá, Brazil (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes)

“…While we follow the taxonomy of Buitrago-Suárez and Burr (2007), we also consider the possibility that P. reticulatum Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 is a junior subjective synonym of P. fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766) in light of the study of Carvalho-Costa et al (2011). These authors reported minimal genetic differentiation among the taxa considered conspecific with P. fasciatum previous to the study of Buitrago-Suárez and Burr (2007).…”

“…Identification to species level follows Buitrago-Suárez and Burr (2007) based on the following characters: head strongly depressed with extended cranial fontanelle; loop-like dark bars forming reticulated pattern which extends far below lateral line and connects dorsally; no clear demarcation between dark dorsal and pale ventral regions; and caudal fin with fewer than 45 spots.…”