Life colouration of three Australoheros species from the Rio Paraíba do Sul basin, southeastern Brazil (Teleostei: Labroidei: Cichlidae)

Abstract

The colouration in life of three Australoheros species from the rio Paraíba do Sul basin is described herein: Australoheros muriae, Australoheros paraibae and Australoheros robustus. These three species share a character state characterized by the presence of two red zones on caudal-fin's posterior margin corners, differentiating them from its congeners from the coastal river basins of southeastern Brazil. Australoheros muriae, as well as, its congeners from the coastal river basins of southeastern Brazil (except A. macacuensis), do not expose metallic blotches on anal fins, differing from A. paraibae and A. robustus which always show metallic blotches on anal fin. Australoheros muriae is also distinguished from these other two species by having red iridescence restricted to the upper region of flank, near dorsal-fin base. Australoheros paraibae differs from A. robustus by having ground of body yellow or yellowish brown, absence of any red iridescence on flank, dorsal-fin ground colouration yellow to yellowish brown and anal fin with ground colouration reddish brown on anterior portion, and yellowish brown on posterior portion.