A new species of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) from Dolina Água Milagrosa, Rio Paraguai basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors
W. J. da Graça, C. A. M. Oliveira, F. C. T. Lima, H. P. da Silva, I. M. Fernandes
Astyanax dolinae, paratype, immediately after collection, NUP 18014, 53·5 mm standard length. Fig. 1. Astyanax dolinae, holotype, MCP 49961, 76·6 mm standard length, Brazil, Mato Grosso State, Cáceres,Dolina Água Milagrosa, Rio Paraguai basin.
Abstract
A new species of Astyanax is described from the upper Rio Paraguai basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by having the body intensely yellowish in life (v. silvery, reddish or lightly yellow) and by morphometric and meristics traits. Astyanax dolinae n. sp. cannot be assigned to any of the Astyanax species complex currently recognized for the genus. It is only known from the Dolina Água Milagrosa, a karstic sinkhole lake, entirely fed by groundwater, surrounded by Cerrado, the savannah-like vegetation of central South America.