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Andrade et al. 2024 (4)

Description: Neoplecostomus altimontanus differs from all congeners, except N. bandeirante and Neoplecostomus sp. n. (described below), by having the exposed area of the first plates of mid-ventral and ventral series narrower than the naked area surrounding each plate (vs. all other congeners with exposed area of first plates of mid-ventral and ventral series equal to or wider than the naked area surrounding each plate). Furthermore, the new species differs from all congeners, except N. jaguari, N.langeanii, and N. sp. n., by presenting sexual dimorphism in dentition, with males having more robust and fewer teeth compared to females (vs. tooth morphology and number similar in both sexes in all other congeners). Additionally, N. altimontanus differs from N. bandeirante by the absence of azygous pre-adipose plates (vs. presence); from N. jaguari by having one or two posteronasal plates (vs. 5–7); from N. langeanii by the presence of an extra canal-bearing plate between supraopercle and dorsal opening of preopercular canal (vs. extra canal-bearing plate absent), (Uzeda, P.L.C. et al. 2024). Habitat: The new species is known from two streams on the northern slope of Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil. These two streams are located in the rio Capivari within rio Verde microbasin, affluent to rio Sapucaí, rio Grande sub-basin, upper rio Paraná basin. The headwaters of rio Sapucaí are separated from those of the rio Paraíba do Sul basin by Serra da Mantiqueira, and the localities of N. altimontanus are situated approximately four kilometers from the latter basin. Sexual dimorphism. Males have a urogenital papilla posterior to anal opening and a skin flap along the dorsal surface of unbranched pelvic-fin ray (both absent in females). Additionally, males have teeth short, robust and fewer in number (17–22 premaxillary and 12–19 dentary teeth) compared to females, which have slender and more numerous teeth (31–42 premaxillary and 31–40 dentary teeth). Etymology: The specific epithet “altimontanus” is given in reference to the Upper Montane Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica Alto-Montana in Portuguese), a vegetation type only found in few mountain ranges above 1.000 m a.s.l. in south and southeastern Brazil. This vegetation type is known for sheltering several water springs across drainages in Brazilian Crystaline Shield, especially affluents of the upper rio Paraná. Due to its restrict geographical distribution and highly specialized ecological conditions, the Upper Montane Atlantic Forest shelters highly endemic species, and is an alarmingly endangered ecosystem, mainly due to habitat loss and climate change. Neoplecostomus altimontanus inhabits one the few remnants of Upper Montane Atlantic Forest in Brazil, on Serra da Mantiqueira. A latinised adjective, meaning “inhabitant of high mountains”.

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Loricariidae

South America: Brazil, two streams on the northern slope of Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil.

9.0cm. (3¾ins)

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

6.0-7.2.

Fish in the News 2024
Uzeda, P. L. C., Paiola, I., Cesar, P. S., Okubo, V. K. N., Marques-Frisoni, W. J., Andrade, B. N., & Langeani, F. (2024). Two new species of Neoplecostomus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from high altitudes of the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, 22(4), e240021.