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Importance

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Comprehensive Description

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Potamorhina altamazonica (Cope)

Curimatus altamazonicus Cope, 1878:684 [type-locality: Peruvian Amazon].—Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1889:432 [placed as a synonym of Curimatus laticeps Valenciennes].

Curimatus laticeps.—Steindachner, 1882:137 [Brazil: Rio Guapore, Villa Bella, Cujaba, Lake Saraca, Silva].—Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1889:432 [reference in part, Brazil: Coary (= Coari), Fonteboa (= Fonte Boa), Villa Bella, Serpa (= Itacoatiara); not listed specimens from Venezuela]; 1891:48 [reference in part].—LaMonte, 1935:7 [Brazil: Rio Purus].

Semitapicis laticeps.—Fowler, 1906:305 [on type of Curimatus altamazonicus Cope].—Eigenmann, 1910:422 [reference in part, not Lake Maracaibo or Río Paraguay].—Fowler, 1939:256, fig. 56 [Peru: Contamana]; 1945:256 [in part; Peru: Río Ucayali].

Curimatus (Semitapicis) laticeps.—Pellegrin, 1909:148 [Brazil: Pará].—Géry, 1964:37 [Peruvian Amazon].

Anodus laticeps.—Eigenmann and Allen, 1942:300 [Peru: Lago Sanango, Río Nanay, Río Ucayali, Lago Cashiboya].—Fowler, 1950:275, fig. 332 [compilation].—Marlier, 1968:25, 40 [Brazil: Lac Redondo; diet].—Dorn and Schaller, 1972:169 [vocalizations].—Schaller, 1974:249 [vocalization mechanism].

Sematapicis laticeps.—Fowler, 1945:119 [incorrect spelling; compilation].

Curimata (Semitapicis) laticeps.—Géry, 1977:230 [reference in part, not Venezuela].

Curimata altamazonica.—Goulding, 1981:39, 66, 105, fig. 37 [common name; migration; fisheries and importance in fisheries].

Curimata laticeps.—Junk et al., 1983:406 [Brazil: Ilha de Marchaantaria; seasonal occurrence].

Semitapiscis laticeps.—Braga and Azpelicueta, 1983:148 [in part, Amazonian citations; not Lago Maracaibo reference].

DIAGNOSIS.—A large Potamorhina species that reaches 270 mm SL. Potamorhina altamazonica is readily distinguished from its congeners by its transversely rounded preventral area and a nonserrate postventral keel. Potamorhina pristigaster, in contrast, has a transversely flattened or slightly concave, laterally keeled preventral region and a serrate median postventral keel. In P. laticeps, P. latior, and P. squamoralevis, the prepelvic region has a distinct median keel. The 35 vertebrae in P. altamazonica also separate it from all other members of the genus except P. squamoralevis. That species, however, has a distinct median prepelvic keel.

DESCRIPTION.—Body moderately elongate, compressed, more so in specimens over 140 mm SL. Dorsal profile of head very slightly concave in some juveniles, straight or slightly convex in larger specimens. Dorsal profile of body smoothly curved from rear of head to origin of rayed dorsal fin; straight and posteroventrally slanted at base of rayed dorsal fin, straight or gently convex from base of last dorsal-fin ray to caudal peduncle; convexity more pronounced in larger specimens. Dorsal surface of body with an indistinct medial keel anterior to rayed dorsal fin, smoothly rounded transversely posterior to fin. Ventral body profile gently curved from tip of lower jaw to caudal peduncle. Prepelvic region smoothly rounded transversely with no indication of median keel, very slight lateral flexures barely discernable in largest specimens examined. A well-developed, nonserrate, median keel extends from barely posterior of pelvic fin insertion to anus.

Greatest body depth at origin of rayed dorsal fin, depth 0.34–0.43 [0.37]; snout tip to origin of rayed dorsal fin 0.44–0.52 [0.49]; snout tip to origin of anal fin 0.71–0.82 [0.79]; snout tip to insertion of pelvic fin 0.48–0.57 [0.51]; snout tip to anus 0.70–0.79 [0.74]; origin of rayed dorsal fin to hypural joint 0.51–0.60 [0.58]. Rayed dorsal fin pointed, less so with increasing age; anteriormost rays somewhat filamentous, length 3.1–4.1 times length of ultimate ray. Pectoral fin pointed; length of pectoral fin 0.16–0.22 [0.17]; fin extends to vertical through insertion of pelvic fin in smaller adults, distinctly shorter in largest specimens examined. Pelvic fin pointed, length of pelvic fin 0.17–0.25 [0.19]; fin reaches two-thirds distance to origin of anal fin. Caudal fin forked. Adipose fin well developed. Anal fin distinctly emarginate, anteriormost branched rays three times length of ultimate ray. Caudal peduncle depth 0.10–0.12 [0.11].

Head obtusely pointed in profile, head length 0.27–0.37 [0.31]; jaws equal, mouth terminal; snout length 0.25–0.32 [0.30]; nostrils of each side very close, anterior circular, posterior crescent-shaped with aperture closed by thin flap of skin that separates nares; orbital diameter 0.20–0.29 [0.24]; a distinct adipose eyelid, particularly well developed longitudinally posterior to orbit in larger specimens; postorbital portion of head elongate, length 0.50–0.57 [0.53]; gape width 0.28–0.35 [0.29]; interorbital width 0.44–0.51 [0.42].

Pored lateral line scales from supracleithrum to hypural joint 85 to 104 [95]; all scales of lateral line pored, canals in scales diverge dorsally and ventrally; 5 to 11 series of scales extend beyond hypural joint onto caudal fin base; 21 to 27 scales in a transverse series from origin of rayed dorsal fin to lateral line, 17 to 23 scales in a transverse series from the lateral line to origin of anal fin. Scales of anteroventral region of body of adults with somewhat serrate edges.

Rayed dorsal-fin rays ii,8–10 [ii,9]; anal-fin rays ii, 11–13 or iii, 12–14 [ii,12]; pectoral-fin rays 15 to 18 [15]; pelvic-fin rays i,8–9 [i,8].

Total vertebrae 35 (18).

Color in Alcohol: Silvery-yellow to golden in specimens that retain guanine. Yellow to brown in specimens that lack guanine. In all individuals dorsal portions of head and body with more intense pigmentation. Some populations with series of small chromatophores arranged in irregular series aligned with scale edges. Fins with scattered, small chromatophores, particularly on distal portions of pectoral, pelvic, anal, rayed and adipose dorsal fins; some individuals with fin rays, particularly in the caudal and dorsal fins, outlined by series of small chromatophores.

DISTRIBUTION.—Rio Amazonas and Rio Orinoco basins (Figure 11, see also below).

COMMON NAME.—Brazil: Branquinha cabeqa lisa (Goulding, 1981).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—349 specimens (103, 50.2–265.5).

BRAZIL. Pará No specific locality, MNHN A.8795, 1; MNHN 09–41, 1. Villa Bella, MCZ 20259, 11; NMW 68832, 1. Monte Alegre, NMW 68828, 1; BMNH 1926.10.27.177, 1. Santarem, MCZ 20228, 3; MCZ 20229, 1. Mouth of Rio Nhamundá, MZUSP 9533, 3 (1, 137.8). Rio Paru, Oriximiná, MZUSP 5996, 15 (5, 184.7–191.3). Rio Trombetas, Oriximiná, MZUSP 20944, 1 (142.3). Amazonas: Rio Iaco, USNM 94666, 3 (92.0–137.5); AMNH 43049, 2 (88.1–140.3); AMNH 12566, 2 (82.0–87.1). Lago Castro at mouth of Rio Purus, MZUSP 6307, 3 (2, 157.8–181.3). Mouth of Rio Purus, MZUSP 20902, 1. Rio Purus, MCZ 33531, 1; NMW 68830, 1; MCZ 33548, 2. Fonte Boa, MCZ 20264, 1 (136.0). Igarape Manduaçu, NW of Fonte Boa, MZUSP 20961, 17. Serpa (= Itacoatiara), MCZ 20317, 1 (75.6); MCZ 20318, 24. Igarape Xicango 5 km E of Humaita, USNM 220003, 1 (57.5); USNM 232364, 1 (cleared and counterstained for cartilage and bone); GC, 6. Rio Jurua, USNM 94644, 1 (202.0). Vicinity of Manaus, USNM 228684, 1 (163.4); USNM 228688, 1; USNM 228686, 1. Lago Januari, MZUSP 6855, 1 (179.0). Tabatinga (= Sapurara), NMW 68829, 1. Rio Madeira, GC, 2. Lagoa off Rio Madeira, ∼25 km from Nova Olinda, MZUSP 7032, 1. Hyavary (= Rio Javari), MCZ 20239, 1; MCZ 20240, 1. Paraná de Urucará, MZUSP 7511, 1 (149.3); MZUSP 5782, 2. Lago Supiá near Codajás, MZUSP 9665, 6. Lago Janauacá, MZUSP 21556, 8 (4, 199.1–232.4). Acre: Rio Jurua, Cruzeiro do Sul, ZUEC 412–413, 2; ZUEC 410, 1. Rondônia: Rio Machado, USNM 220195, 5 (201.5–211.0). Rio Machado, Paraiso, MZUSP 14044, 1 (207.2). Pernambuco: Rìo Moxoto, USNM 196710, 5 (225.0–265.5).

PERU. Peruvian Amazon, ANSP 2118, 1 (157.5; holotype of Curimatus altamazonicus); ANSP 21119–21120, 2 (122.3–145.0; paratypes of Curimatus altamazonicus). Loreto: Contamana, ANSP 73166, 10 (4, 55.7–128.0); CAS-IU 17861, 12 (9, 63.0–132.5). Iquitos, USNM 163849, 1 (140.0). Iquitos, Caño Lupuna, MZUSP 15232, 1. Río Amazonas near Iquitos, USNM 257367, 3 (1 cleared and counterstained for cartilage and bone). Río Samiria, Atum Cocha, MZUSP 15246, 1. Lago Sanago near Yurimaguas, USNM 16776, 2 (155.4–172.8); CAS-IU 15663, 3 (161.5–185.9). Río Nanay, CAS-IU 15836, 3 (110.3–154.9). Orellana, CAS-IU 17860, 1 (190.0). Ucayali: Pucallpa, Cashibococha, MZUSP uncat., 6. Pucallpa, AMNH 48670, 3 (52.0–74.7 [1 specimen cleared and counterstained for cartilage and bone]); AMNH 48672, 4 (50.2–63.5); AMNH 48671, 1 (64.1); ANSP 119871, 1 (135.8). Río Ucayali, Bagazan, MZUSP uncat., 2. Lago Cashiboya, CAS-IU 17862, 29 (9, 64.5–129.0). Amazonas: Ayambas, LACM 36343–8, 1. Huanuco: Lower Río Pachitea, BMNH 1969.7.15.48, 1 (153.0).

BOLIVIA. Beni: Río Guaporé, AMNH 37714, 1 (123.5). Río Mamoré 5 km SE of Limoquije, AMNH 48669, 1 (108.9).

COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Leticia, ANSP 119888, 1 (154.0). Rio Amazonas near Leticia, MCZ 51639, 1 (41.1). Meta: Puerto Lopez, USNM 228685, 3 (154.0–191.0).

VENEZUELA. Territorio Federal Delta Amacuro: lower Río Orinoco, USNM 228698, 1 (154.0); USNM 228694, 2 (73.0–87.3); USNM 228695, 3 (64.8–86.2); USNM 228689, 1; USNM 228696, 1; MBUCV V-13097, 3. Caño E1 Chano, Tucupita, MBUCV V-10358, 4 (92.9–98.8). Guarico: Esteros de Camaguan, near Camaguan, MBUCV V-11811, 2; MBUCV V-11801, 1. Río Manapire, Santa Rita, MBUCV V-5759, 46; MBUCV V-5747, 17. Río Portuguesa, Camaguan, MBUCV V-8802, 1. Apure: Río Apure, Viejo, San Fernando de Apure, MBUCV V-11165, 9. Caño E1 Pavoncito, Río Apure, MBUCV V-2786, 2. Lagoon near San Fernando de Apure, MBUCV V-5525, 9. Río Apure, San Fernando de Apure, USNM 257902, 2; USNM 258199, 1. Territorio Federal de Amazonas: Raudales de Ature, MBUCV V-12823, 2.
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bibliographic citation
Vari, Richard P. 1984. "Systematics of the Neotropical characiform genus Potamorhina (Pisces, Characiformes)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-36. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.400