Molecular phylogeny of Austrofundulus Myers (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), with revision of the genus and the description of four new species. Author Tomas Hrbek Author Donald C. Taphorn Author Jamie E. Thomerson text Zootaxa 2005 825 1 39 http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A65C9E57-187D-4503-AD3A-E7E4135A77BF journal article z00825p001 A65C9E57-187D-4503-AD3A-E7E4135A77BF Austrofundulus transilis Myers 1932 Figure 6 Austrofundulus transilis Myers 1932 : 159-162 (original description of genus Austrofundulus , and A. transilis ). de Beauford 1940: 110 (specimens of A. guajira from Guajira peninsula listed). Myers 1942: 110-112 (based on specimens of A. limnaeus and possibly other species from Lake Maracaibo Basin). Schultz 1949: 82, 85-89 (description of subspecies A. t. transilis , and A. t. limnaeus ; key, data on holotype of A. t. transilis ). Myers 1952: 135, 138-139 (life cycle, figure of A. limnaeus {labeled as A. transilis } from near Lake Maracaibo). Hoedeman 1958: 25, 27 (frontal head scale pattern for “ Austrofundulus transilis ” but author does not identify material used to prepare figure). Weitzman and Wourms 1967: 89-100 (discussion of annual killifish genera, refers to A. transilis {= A. limnaeus or one of the new species described here} figure 3 shows a fish of the A. limnaeus group identified as A. transilis ). Turner 1967: 845 (distribution of Rachovia hummelincki and “ A. transilis ” compared, but Austrofundulus sites refer to species of the A. limnaeus group). Scheel 1969: 11-16 (frontal scale pattern and caudal scales discussed for “ A. transilis ” but material not identified). Thomerson 1971: 23 (discussion of distribution of A. transilis limnaeus in relation to that of R. hummelincki ). Goldstein 1972:51 (color photo identified as A. transilis is probably A. leohoignei ). Thomerson and Turner 1973: 786 ( A. transilis listed as syntopic with other annual form Cano Benito area of the Venezuelan Llanos). Vaz-Ferreira and Sierra de Soriano 1972: 36-40 (lateral line and head pore patterns for A. transilis = A. limnaeus species group). Taphorn and Thomerson 1975: 67-73 (photo, key, color description, distribution). Holotype. USNM 92191. An adult male (40.0 mm) from a pond in the state of Guarico, Rio Orinoco basin, Venezuela; collected by F. F. Russell in 1928 (precise date is unknown). Paratypes . None. Diagnosis. Austrofundulus transilis is the smallest of all species of Austrofundulus . It is distinguished from all other species of Austrofundulus by pastel light tan to pink-grey background body color, and the lack of any black markings on the body. Males of A. transilis have pink to red background color on all fins with occasional blue-green highlights between the fin rays; this fin color pattern is also diagnostic. FIGURE 6. Photo of a male Austrofundulus transilis . Description. A small proportion of males also have an iridescent blue-green or black ocellus on the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is rounded and without “lyre-tail” extensions (usually present in A. rupununi , morphologically the most similar species). Pelvic and pectoral fins are lighter than the unpaired fins. Females have clear fins. The sides of the body of males are unpatterned. The dorsum of the body is light tan anterior to the dorsal fin, and gets progressively pinker posterior to the dorsal fin, and on the sides of the body. Each scale is lightly outlined with white or lighter pink. The abdomen is pale, almost white. In females, the basic color is plain light tan. As in males, the abdomens of females are lighter than the rest of the body. The iris of the eye is silver. A faint eye bar is usually visible; however, this character varies with the temperament of the fish. For additional characters see Myers (1932), Taphorn and Thomerson (1978) and Table 3. Distribution. Known from the Llanos of the Rio Apure drainage, and from the lower Rio Unare basin (Fig 1). Remarks. Austrofundulus transilis are small, relatively non-aggressive fish when compared to A. limnaeus and the other species described in this paper. Although there is sexual differentiation in the color pattern, it is subtle compared to the other Austrofundulus species. TABLE 3. Meristics and morphometrics of Austrofundulus transilis .
males, n = 24 females, n = 9
H low high mean low high mean
Standard Length (mm) 40.0 20.5 38.3 28.9 20.8 33.3 27.2
Meristics
Dorsal rays 12 15 13.5 12 14 13.1
Anal rays 14 17 15.8 14 17 15.6
Pectoral rays 14 16 14.8 14 16 14.6
Lateral scales 28 33 31.2 30 31 30.4
Transverse scales 10 12 11.4 10 12 11.4
Caudal peduncle scales 16 18 16.3 16 18 16.4
Breast scales 6 11 8.6 7 11 8.8
Thousandths of standard length
Greatest body depth .262 .312 .292 .261 .333 .286
Caudal peduncle depth .134 .166 .149 .125 .169 .141
Caudal peduncle length .191 .241 .212 .190 .241 .211
Head width .155 .204 .184 .163 .205 .184
Head depth .184 .225 .203 .173 .232 .194
Head length .373 .373 .325 .316 .357 .337
Snout length .011 .050 .037 .010 .059 .030
Eye diameter .079 .012 .096 .086 .012 .098
Predorsal length .627 .695 .660 .639 .722 .675
Preanal length .572 .627 .599 .598 .654 .626
Dorsal fin base length .151 .201 .310 .127 .189 .298
Anal fin base length .165 .237 .191 .152 .219 .194
Pelvic fin length .094 .141 .110 .109 .137 .121
Dorsal fin length .257 .346 .600 .228 .321 .625
Anal fin length .274 .345 .175 .270 .329 .166
Pectoral fin length .164 .217 .191 .168 .224 . 174