Bisecting the type series of Leporinus paranensis Garavello & Britski, 1987 (Characiformes, Anostomidae)

Abstract

The type series of Leporinus paranensis includes two distinct species, one of which is herein described as new. Leporinus paranensis is redescribed based on its holotype, two paratypes, and additional specimens recently sampled in tributaries of the Grande River, in the north portion of the upper Paraná basin in Brazil. A new species of Leporinus is described based on specimens collected in all major tributaries of the upper Paraná basin in Brazil, and tributaries of the Paraná River in Paraguay. Both species share the presence of three unicuspid teeth on the premaxillary and four on the dentary, a terminal mouth and three dark midlateral blotches on the body. The new species is distinguished from L. paranensis based on the number of scale series around the caudal peduncle (12 vs. 16). Despite the similar body shape, species delimitation analyses using DNA barcodes, applied to compare samples of the new species to congeners, corroborated the uniqueness of the new species. In addition, molecular data revealed that L. bahiensis, L. octofasciatus, and L. taeniatus are possibly closely related to the L. paranensis species group. Conservation statuses of L. paranensis and the new species are recommended based on the IUCN criteria.