Barbosa, M.A. & Costa, W.J.E.M., 2008
Description of a new species of catfish from the upper rio Paraíba do Sul basin, south-eastern Brazil (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) and re-description of Trichomycterus itatiayae.Abstract
Trichomycterus nigroauratus n. sp. is described from south-eastern Brazil and Trichomycterus itatiayae is redescribed. Trichomycterus nigroauratus differs from all the remaining species of Trichomycterus by possessing golden spots on its snout and body. The species seems to be closely related to T. itatiayae, based on the presence of a broad metapterygoid, which is wider than long, and colour pattern that exhibits a black stripe along the lateral midline, which posteriorly reaches the caudal fin posterior margin, at least in juveniles. Trichomycterus nigroauratus differs from T. itatiayae mainly by the number of rays on the pectoral fin, the related position of the anal fin, the morphology of the opercular and interopercular odontodes, the autopalatine and urohyal bones, the caudal fin and by its colour pattern. Trichomycterus diabolus also has a broad metapterygoid but seems to be closely related to T. castroi, with which it shares a distinctive unpigmented area on the basal region of the caudal fin. Trichomycterus nigroauratus and T. itatiayae are often found together living syntopically in small mountain rivers of the region, swimming close to the substrate during daylight.
Barbosa, M.A. & Costa, W.J.E.M.
aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 14 (4): 175-186, 2008.