Peckoltia sabaji, a new species from the Guyana Shield (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

Abstract

Peckoltia sabaji is described based on specimens from the Guyana Shield regions of the Essequibo, Negro, and Orinoco River drainages of Guyana and Venezuela. Peckoltia sabaji is a member of the loricariid subfamily Hypostominae, tribe Ancistrini. The species differs from nearly all other members of the Hypostominae based on coloration — small spots on the head with spots becoming very large on the posterior part of the body. Those species with a similar coloration either do not have elongated bodies (vs. body very elongate) or have odontodes on the opercle as adults (vs. odontodes on opercle absent, rarely with one or two odontodes in adults).