Revisão das espécies nominais do gênero Proloricaria Isbrücker, 2001 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae, Loricariinae): um caso de aplicação de taxonomia integrativa
Abstract
The catfishes of the Loricariinae subfamily inhabit the substrate environments of South
American rivers and are distinguished from the rest of the Loricariidae family by having a long,
depressed caudal peduncle and the absence of an adipose fin. Most of the more than 250 species
of Loricariinae were described in the genus Loricaria, but many are currently located in other
genera of the subfamily. The genus Proloricaria was described in 2001, having as type species
Loricaria prolixa, from the Tietê river basin. The other species accepted for the genus,
Proloricaria lentiginosa, was originally described as L. prolixa lentiginosa, from specimens of
the rio Grande basin. The two species are widely distributed in the upper rio Paraná basin, and
are morphologically very similar. The distinction between them was originally based on the
difference of color on the head and body, and the arrangement of bony plates on the abdomen.
Such characters are labile, with doubts regarding the recognition and taxonomic validity of the
two species, suggesting synonymy. This monograph consists in a study of the species of the
genus Proloricaria using a combination of morphological methods and molecular analysis
(DNA barcoding), in order to test the hypothesis of validity of two nominal species belonging
to the genus. Morphometric, meristic and qualitative analyzes of specimens deposited in
collections were carried out, as well as molecular analyzes of DNA barcoding from the
sequencing of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene of specimens, comparing them with the
sequences available at BOLD Systems and Genbank. The morphological analysis of the species
showed differences regarding the presence or absence of a pair of pre-dorsal supernumerary
anterior plates, and the number of rows of odontodes on the parieto-supraoccipital. Molecular
analyzes of the sequences compared with the database sequences allowed the distinction of the
two species, supporting the necessity of correction of the mentions of both in the studies of the
ichthyofauna of the upper Paraná river. The morphological and molecular basis obtained in this
study resolves many of the existing conflicts regarding the identification and validity of the
species, presents support to distinguish them as two different species, corrects the mentions of
each one of them in the literature, and defines the distribution pattern of P. prolixa in the Tietê,
Paranapanema and Paraná river basins, and P. lentiginosa in the rio Grande basin, both
integrating the upper Paraná river system.
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