First record of Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura(Teleostei: Cichliformes) from Argentina.

IGNACIO D. GARCIA; GUILLERMO ENRIQUE TERÁN; FELIPE ALONSO

Ichthyological Contributions of PecesCriollos

EditorialPecesCriollos

Año: 2017 vol. 52

1868-3703

The genus Gymnogeophagus Miranda Ribeiro 1918 is a diverse genus of geophagin Neotropical cichlids. Species of this genus are endemic to the La Plata basin, the Laguna dos Patos/Merímsystem, and rio Tramandaí drainage. The specimens collected where identified as Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura following the diagnoses provided by Loureiro et al. (2016) which can be summarized in: 23-25 of E1 scales and by a unique conspicuous coloration pattern which consist in diagonal bright blue stripes in the dorsal-fin over a red background in the spiny section, and a combination of round, elliptical, and elongated bright blue spots in the soft section; termination of the bright blue band that runs above the upper lateral line before reaching a bright blue spot placed above the first perforated scale; and light blue rounded spots over a red to orange background in the anal-fin [light brown over brown in preserved specimen. These new findings represent the first records of Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura from Argentina and from Western tributaries of the Uruguay River These kind of new records are important also in terms of conservation, as they allow adequate planning of the use of the natural environments and its components, therefore being important tools governments on all levels can rely on when making decisions on management and conservation issues.