Neoplecostomus sapucai Andrade, Uzeda, Paiola, Siqueira-Cesar, Okubo, Marques-Frisoni & Langeani 2024, new species

Neoplecostomus sapucai Andrade, Uzeda, Paiola, Siqueira-Cesar, Okubo, Marques-Frisoni & Langeani, new species urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8D17A28B-4C35-4F2C-A1AC-968B9DD3684B (Figs. 10–11; Tab. 2) Neoplecostomus sp. 3. ― Roxo et al. (2012b):35 (tab. 1), 38 (fig. 2). ― Roxo et al. (2012c):2444 (fig. 2). Neoplecostomus sp. 4. ― Roxo et al. (2012b):35 (tab. 1), 38 (fig. 2). ― Roxo et al. (2012c):2444 (fig. 2). Neoplecostomus sp. “Sapucaí” - population 6. ― Lucena et al. (2012):325 (reference in abstract), 326 (fig. 1f), 327 (fig. 2), 328 (tab. 1, reference in results), 329 (tab. 2, reference in discussion, tab. 3), 330 (fig. 3, reference in discussion), 331 (fig. 4, reference in discussion). Neoplecostomus sp. “Monjolo” - population 7. ― Lucena et al. (2012):325 (reference in abstract), 326 (fig. 1g), 327 (fig. 2), 328 (tab. 1, reference in results), 329 (tab. 2, reference in discussion, tab. 3), 330 (fig. 3, reference in discussion), 331 (fig. 4, reference in discussion). Neoplecostomus sp. ― Thereza, Langeani (2019):23 (identification key), 45–46, 102 (fig. 10c). Holotype. DZSJRP 14015, male, 88.4 mm SL, Brazil, State of Minas Gerais, Delfim Moreira, rio Grande sub-basin, rio Sapucaí drainage, unnamed stream on Highway AMG-1915 (Piquete - Delfim Moreira), 22º32’31.3”S 45º14’28.8”W, 1.331 m a.s.l., 6 Aug 2011, B. N. Andrade, F. O. Martins & F. Langeani. Paratypes. All from Brazil, rio Grande sub-basin, rio Sapucaí drainage. State of Minas Gerais, Delfim Moreira: DZSJRP 24791, 6, 53.0– 57.5 mm SL, collected with holotype. DZSJRP 13944, 1, 76.3 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, 22º29’59”S 45º19’29”W, 1.165 m a.s.l., 13 Jun 2011, J. E. Souza. DZSJRP 13952, 2, 76.1–81.0 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, 22º29’37”S 45º19’47”W, 1.150 m a.s.l., 15 Jun 2011, J. E. Souza. DZSJRP 13955, 9, unmeasured, rio Santo Antônio, 22º29’07”S 45º21’01”W, 950 m a.s.l., 15 Nov 2011, J. E. Souza. DZSJRP 14024, 2, 55.5–69.2 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, Highway between Delfim Moreira and Itajubá, 22º29’06.4”S 45º21’01.5”W, 948 m a.s.l., 7 Aug 2011, B. N. Andrade, F. O. Martins & F. Langeani. DZSJRP 14028, 1, 50.1 mm SL, stream affluent to PCH Ninho da Águia, 22º29’35.1”S 45º19’44.7”W, 1.163 m a.s.l., 7 Aug 2011, B. N. Andrade, F. O. Martins & F. Langeani. DZSJRP 14029, 7, unmeasured, rio Santo Antônio, 22º29’52.9”S 45º19’26.7”W, 1.171 m a.s.l., 7 Aug 2011, B. N. Andrade, F. O. Martins & F. Langeani. DZSJRP 14876, 2, unmeasured, rio Santo Antônio, Delfim Moreira, 22º28’04”S 45º20’58”W, 882 m a.s.l., 18 Nov 2011, Nicatec team. DZSJRP 14877, 2, 8.7–85.2 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, 22º29’37.6”S 45º19’47.44”W, 1.146 m a.s.l., 16 Nov 2011, Nicatec team. DZSJRP 17758, 2, 81.0– 82.8 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, upstream PCH Ninho da Águia reservoir, 22º29’58”S 45º19’29”W, 1.167 m a.s.l., 27–28 Nov 2012, L. L. Santiago & Nicatec team. DZSJRP 20586, 1, 84.6 mm SL, rio Santo Antônio, downstream Ninho da Águia waterfall, 22º28’05”S 45º20’58”W, 882 m a.s.l., 11 Jul 2014, Nicatec team. DZSJRP 23243, 4, unmeasured, rio Santo Antônio, Delfim Moreira, 22º28’00”S 45º21’12”W, 884 m a.s.l., 26 Sep 2022, I. Langeani & F. Langeani. MNRJ 22251, 26, 38.0– 50.1 mm SL, left tributary to ribeirão do Machado or Tabuão, 22°32’21”S 45°14’27”W, 1.323 m a.s.l., 14 Nov 2001, P. A. Buckup, O. M. Filho & A. T. Aranda. State of São Paulo: MZUSP 99333, 10, 31.0– 60.3 mm SL, Ribeirão Marmelos, 22º38’32”S 45º30’17”W, 1.192 m a.s.l., 22 Feb 2008, A. K. Zeinad; MZUSP 99680, 3, 72.5–87.6 mm SL, ribeirão Lajeado, Highway SP-42 near SP-050, São Bento do Sapucaí, 22º47’09”S 45º41’17”W, 1.007 m a.s.l., date and collectors undetermined. CI-UFLA 3191, 6, 4 unmeasured, 2, 52.2– 55.0 mm SL, rio Sapucaí-mirim, São Bento do Sapucaí, 22°47’18.71”S 45°40’28.00”W, 1.017 m a.s.l, 30 Jul 2024, P. L. C. Uzeda & L. Sartori. MCP 48676, 3, 57.9–63.4 mm SL, waterfall in Parque Estadual de Campos de Jordão (Horto Florestal), Campos do Jordão, 22º39’00”S 45º31’00”W, 1.291 m a.s.l., 1 Jan 2013, M. Soares & K. Leite. MCP 48677, 3, 68.0– 75.4 mm SL, waterfall in Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão (Horto Florestal), Campos do Jordão, 22º39’00”S 45º31’00”W, 1.291 m a.s.l., 1 Jan 2013, M. Soares & K. Leite. MNRJ 22252, 5, 40.2–67.9 mm SL, rio Comprido, tributary to Usina Hidrelétrica de Piquete, rio Bicas microbasin, Highway BR-459, Piquete, 22°33’29”S 45°22’11”W, 1.135 m a.s.l., 15 Nov 2001, P. A. Buckup, O. M. Filho & A. T. Aranda. MNRJ 23963, 35, 38.0– 65.7 mm SL (1 c&s, 55.8 mm SL), Campos do Jordão near Piranguçu, 22°35’46”S 45°28’33”W, 978 m a.s.l., 30 May 2002, P. A. Buckup, O. M. Filho, A. T. Aranda & C. Chamon. Non-type. Brazil, State of Minas Gerais, rio Grande sub-basin, rio Sapucaí drainage. MNRJ 23949, 1, unmeasured, ribeirão do Salto, Itajubá, 22°26’55”S 45°20’47”W, 910 m a.s.l., 30 May 2002, P. A. Buckup, O. M. Filho, A. T. Aranda & C. Chamon. Diagnosis. Neoplecostomus sapucai differs from all congeners, except N. altimontanus and N. bandeirante, by having the exposed area of first plates of mid-ventral and ventral series narrower than the naked areas 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) (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the new species differs from all congeners, except N. altimontanus, N. jaguari, and N. langeanii by presenting sexual dimorphism in dentition, with males having more robust and fewer teeth compared to females (Fig. 3) (vs. tooth morphology and number similar in both sexes in all other congeners). Additionally, N. sapucai differs from N. bandeirante by the presence of a lateronasal plate (Fig. 6), absence of keels along the lateral series of plates and absence of preadipose azygous plates (vs. lateronasal plate absent, keels and preadipose azygous plates present) (Fig. 5); from N. jaguari by having two posteronasal plates (vs. five to seven posteronasal plates) and females with 24–33, modally 26 premaxillary and 22– 31, modally 26 dentary teeth (vs. females with 30–39 premaxillary and 30–38 dentary teeth); and from N. langeanii by the presence of an extra canal-bearing plate located between supraopercle and dorsal opening of the preopercular canal (Fig. 4) (vs. extra canal-bearing plate absent). Neoplecostomus sapucai is most similar to N. altimontanus, from which differs by having transverse light bars over body (vs. conspicuous dark spots over body and fins); plates of the lateral series bearing odontodes roughly equal in size, making caudal-peduncle surface smooth and rounded in cross-section (vs. plates of dorsal, mid-dorsal, median and mid-ventral series with slightly hypertrophied odontodes on posterior portion, resembling discontinuous keels on caudal peduncle) (Fig. 5); reduced adipose fin, extending over three or four plates, usually three (Fig. 5) (vs. well-developed adipose fin, extending over four or five dorsal plates, usually five); presence of a lateronasal plate (vs. lateronasal plate absent) (Fig. 6); larger nares (nare length 9.9–14.1% vs. 3.0–9.0% of HL); and by the lower premaxillary (24–33, modally 26 vs. 31–42, modally 35) and dentary (22–31, modally 26 vs. 31–40, modally 31) teeth counts in females. Description. Measurements and counts in Tab. 2. Body elongated and dorsoventrally depressed. Greatest width at anterior portion of cleithrum, gradually narrowing towards caudal peduncle. Dorsal profile of body slightly convex, elevating from snout tip to dorsal-fin origin; descending from dorsal-fin origin to dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays. Greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin. Trunk and caudal peduncle dorsally rounded in cross-section. Ventral profile depressed to anal-fin origin and slightly rounded to caudal fin. Body entirely covered with bony plates, except around dorsal-fin base, ventral surface of head, regions around ventral shield, lateral portion of trunk between pectoral- and pelvic-fin origin, and between ventral shield and anal-fin origin. Lateral series of plates without keels. Exposed area of first plates of mid-ventral and ventral series narrower than naked area surrounding each plate. Abdomen with small plates covered with odontodes, arranged into pentagonal or hexagonal shield between pectoral- and pelvic-fin origins. Head broad and rounded. Snout tip without bony plates. Lateral margins of snout and anterior portion of head lacking hypertrophied odontodes and swollen skin. Interorbital region slightly convex in frontal view. Eyes moderately sized and dorsolaterally located. Ventral surface of head naked, except for canal cheek plate, undivided and with triangular medial projection. Extra canal-bearing plate between supraopercle and compound pterotic. Lips moderately developed and rounded; lower lip covered with small rounded papillae. Hypertrophied papillae arranged into two or three irregular series immediately posterior to dentary teeth. Posterior margin of lower lip strongly convex, reaching or almost reaching pectoral girdle. Maxillary barbel poorly developed, entirely coalesced to lower lip. Dentary rami angled towards each other at about 110º–115º. Premaxillary teeth bicuspid and copper colored; lateral cusp smaller than mesial cusp. Dorsal fin i-ii,7; origin slightly posterior to vertical through pelvic-fin origin; spinelet absent or present, wider than base of unbranched ray when present; locking mechanism not functional. Distal margin straight, surpassing vertical through anal-fin origin when adpressed. Adipose fin short and low, extending over three to four (normally three) dorsal plates; absent in some specimens, replaced by azygous plates; preadipose azygous plates normally absent. Pectoral fin i,6; unbranched ray dorsoventrally depressed and curved posteriorly, shorter than first branched ray. Distal margin straight, surpassing first third of pelvic fin when adpressed. Pelvic fin i,5; unbranched ray slightly curved inwards; ventral surface flattened, covered with spatulate odontodes. Distal margin roughly straight.