Taxonomy of the seasonal killifish genus Neofundulus in the Brazilian Pantanal (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

Abstract

On the basis of fish collections made between 1991 and 2014, four species of the seasonal killifish genus Neofundulus are reported to occur in the Brazilian Pantanal, Paraguay river basin: N. parvipinnis, endemic to the Cuiabá and São Lourenço river drainages, in the northern portion of the Pantanal; N. rubrofasciatus, new species, from the Miranda river drainage, N. aureomaculatus, new species, from the Aquidauana river drainage, both in the south-eastern portion of the Pantanal; and N. paraguayensis, occurring in the Paraguay and Nabileque river floodplains, in the southern part of the Pantanal. The new species are diagnosed by unique colour patterns, and a combination of morphological characters states indicating that they are more closely related to N. parvipinnis and N. splendidus than to N. paraguayensis.