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Comprehensive Description

provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Curimata incompta Vari, 1984b

Curimata species A (Vari, in press)

Curimata species B (Vari, in press)
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cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
bibliographic citation
Vari, Richard P. 1989. "A phylogenetic study of the neotropical characiform family Curimatidae (Pisces : Ostariophysi)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-71. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.471

Comprehensive Description

provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Curimata incompta Vari

Curimata incompta Vari, 1984b:34, fig. 4 [type locality: Venezuela, Río Meta near Puerto Paez]; 1989, tables 2, 3 [phylogenetic relationships]

DIAGNOSIS.—The combination of 8 or 9 branched anal-fin rays and a greatest body depth 0.34–0.39 of SL distinguish Curimata incompta from all Curimata species other than C. vittata and C. inornata. The lack of any pronounced vertical pigmentation pattern on the dorsal surface of the body and the possession of 30 or 31 vertebrae readily separates C. incompta from C. vittata which has a characteristic pattern of vertical bars on the dorsal surface of the body and 32 vertebrae. Curimata incompta has an interorbital width that is greater than the distance from the tip of the snout to the anterior margin of the opening in the adipose eyelid. In C. inornata the interorbital width is less than the distance from the snout to the eyelid margin. The species also differ in the length of the postorbital portion of the head (0.39–0.46 of HL in C. incompta vs. 0.32–0.37 in Curimata inornata, Figure 22), horizontal width of the orbit (0.29–0.33 of HL vs. 0.32–0.39), and snout length (0-28–0.32 of HL vs. 0.31–0.36).

DESCRIPTION.—Body moderately elongate, robust, more so in larger specimens. Dorsal profile of head straight or very slightly concave. Dorsal profile of body slightly convex from rear of head to origin of rayed dorsal fin; straight and posteroventrally slanted at base of dorsal fin, gently convex from base of last dorsal-fin ray to caudal peduncle, particularly in larger specimens. Dorsal surface of body with an indistinct median 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 flattened, margined laterally by distinct, nearly right, angles in body wall that extend from level of vertical through origin of pectoral fin to origin of pelvic fins. A median series of enlarged scales in prepelvic region flanked on each side by a series of enlarged scales that conform in shape to lateral angle of prepelvic region of body. Well developed median keel posterior to pelvic fin origin with secondary obtuse angle in body wall two scales dorsal of ventral midline on each side of postpelvic portion of body.

Greatest body depth at origin of rayed dorsal fin, depth 0.34–0.39 [0.36]; snout tip to origin of rayed dorsal fin 0.50–0.53 [0.50]; snout tip to origin of anal fin 0.78–0.83 [0.81]; snout tip to origin of pelvic fin 0.52–0.57 [0.54]; snout tip to anus 0.75–0.80 [0.77]; origin of rayed dorsal fin to hypural joint 0.54–0.58 [0.57]. Rayed dorsal fin pointed, anteriormost rays 4.7–5.8 times length of ultimate ray. Pectoral fin pointed; length of pectoral fin 0.18–0.22 [0.21], extends to vertical through origin of pelvic fin in smaller specimens, falls short of that line in largest specimens examined. Pelvic fin pointed, length of pelvic fin 0.20–0.25 [0.22], reaches three-quarters of distance to origin of anal fin in smaller specimens, somewhat less in larger individuals. Caudal fin forked. Adipose fin well developed. Anal fin emarginate, anteriormost branched rays approximately twice length of ultimate ray. Caudal peduncle depth 0.10–0.12 [0.11].

Head distinctly pointed in profile, head length 0.31–0.36 [0.31]; upper jaw longer, mouth inferior; snout length 0.28–0.32 [0.31]; nostrils very close, anterior circular, posterior crescent shaped with aperture closed by thin flap of skin that separates nares; orbital diameter 0.29–0.33 [0.32]; adipose eyelid present, with a vertically ovoid opening over center of eye; length of postorbital portion of head 0.39–0.46 [0.46]; gape width 0.28–0.34 [0.28]; interorbital width 0.40–0.45 [0.45].

Pored lateral-line scales from supracleithrum to hypural joint 52 to 58 [55]; all scales of lateral-line pored, canals in scales straight in smaller specimens, diverging somewhat dorsally or ventrally in adults; 5 to 8 series of scales extend beyond hypural joint onto caudal fin base; 13 to 15 [13] scales in transverse series from origin of rayed dorsal fin to lateral line; 8 to 10 [9] scales in transverse series from the lateral line to origin of anal fin; 13 to 16 [14] enlarged scales in a midventral series anterior to origin of pelvic fins; scale margins weakly ctenoid, ctenii more developed in larger individuals, particularly on ventral portion of body.

Rayed dorsal-fin rays ii,9 or iii,8 (iii,8 rare) [ii,9]; anal-fin rays ii,8–9 or iii,8–9 (when three unbranched rays present, first very short) [iii,8]; pectoral-fin rays 13 to 15 [14]; pelvic-fin rays i,8–9 [i,9].

Total vertebrae 30 (2), 31 (56).

COLOR IN LIFE.—Overall coloration bright silvery, slightly darker dorsally; median and paired fins without any pronounced pigmentation.

COLOR IN ALCOHOL.—Overall coloration in formalin preserved specimens lacking guanine on scales yellowish to tannish-brown, darker on dorsal portions of head and body. Myomere margins along lateral midline outlined by series of small chromatophores. Distal margin of caudal and rayed dorsal fins dusky.

DISTRIBUTION.—Río Orinoco drainage basin (Figure 25).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—59 specimens (57, 43.7–112.0 mm SL).

VENEZUELA. Apure: Río Meta near Puerto Paez, MBUCV V-5991, 1 (112.8, holotype of Curimata incompta); MBUCV V-14026, 3 (103.7–107.9, paratypes of C. incompta); USNM 257083, 1 (104.8, paratype of C. incompta). Territorio Federal Amazonas. Río Orinoco, Raudales de Ature upstream of Puerto Ayacucho, USNM 269991, 1. Bolivar: Canõ draining into Río Orinoco slightly north of El Burro, USNM 273308, 2. Laguna between Palua and Ciudad Bolivar, MBUCV V-13213, 1 (56.3,, paratype of C. incompta). Laguna La Ceiba and discharge channel into Río Orinoco, Los Castillos de Guyana, MBUCV V-6700, 5 (86.8–103.0). Río Orinoco just downstream stream of San Felix, USNM 236557, 1 (94.6, paratype of C. incompta). Monagas: Canõ Guarguapo system, USNM 236559, 5 (51.5–74.7, paratypes of C. incompta); MBUCV V-13093, 2 (49.8–57.7, paratypes of C. incompta). Río Orinoco, inlet below Barrancas, 1 (64.8, paratype of C. incompta). Cocos Island, Río Orinoco opposite Los Castillos de Guyana, USNM 236551, 1 (43.7, paratype of C. incompta). Isla Tapatapa at Los Castillos, USNM 236558, 1 (51.5, paratype of C. incompta). Canõ between Río Orinoco and Laguna Guatero, near Barrancas, USNM 236553, 7 (58.7–72.0, paratypes of C. incompta, 2 specimens cleared and counterstained for bone and cartilage); FMNH 94590, 1 (61.7, paratype of C. incompta); LACM 43350-1, 1 (68.7, paratype of C. incompta). Territorio Federal Delta Amacuro: Mouth of Canõ on Isla Tortola, USNM 236555, 2, (66.1–72.8, paratypes of C. incompta). Lagoon west of Canõ Araguaito, USNM 236560, 1 (53.0, paratype of C. incompta); MBUCV V-13125, 2 (55.0–62.6, paratypes of C. incompta). Stream off Río Orinoco, USNM 236556, 4 (43.8–57.3, paratypes of C. incompta). Canõ Paloma system, USNM 236554, 5 (57.9–61.5, paratypes of C. incompta); AMNH 54627, 2 (63.4–64.7, paratypes of C. incompta); BMNH 1983.3.1:5–6,2 (55.9–59.7, paratypes of C. incompta); ANSP 150914, 2 (55.0–57.5, paratypes of C. incompta); FMNH 94589, 2 (52.0–59.3, paratypes of C. incompta); CAS 52168, 2 (52.2–59.8, paratypes of C. incompta); LACM 43297-1, 2 (52.9–60.0, paratypes of C. incompta.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
bibliographic citation
Vari, Richard P. 1989. "Systematics of the Neotropical characiform genus Curimata Bosc (Pisces:Characiformes)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-63. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.474