Open Access PDF - Sven Kullander

uito, Rio Aguaro on the way towards Hato Aguaro,
west of Santa Rita (Garcerito); 10 Jan 1995, D. C. Taphorn
et al. – MCNG 33198, 2, 181-190 mm SL; Bolívar: Laguna
El Potrero; 23 Apr 1988, M. Rodriguez. – ZSM
25020, 2;Bolívar: Laguna de Palma at San Felix; 29 Mar
1974, H. J. Köpke. – ZSM 25269, 2; Amazonas: Rio
Atabapo at San Fernando; 5 Feb 1973, H. J. Köpke & M.
Jeschke. – ZSM 23838, 2, 136.2-136.4 mm SL; Monagas:
Barrancas, Laguna Los Guateguas; 11 Nov 1963, F.
Mago L. Rio Caroni drainage: Bolívar: NRM 12038,
1, 57.6 mm SL; Embalse de Guri, 7 km W of El Manteco;
6 Apr 1990, U. Werner et al. – NRM 22918, 2, 79.0-
99.6 mm SL; Guri Reservoir-Rio Caroni Los Arrendajos;
4 Dec 1993, J. D. Williams et al. – NRM 21547, 1, 233 mm
SL, NRM 21549, 1, 246 mm SL, NRM 21550, 1, 291 mm
SL; NE part of Embalse del Guri, Los Arrendajos; 16
Jan 1994, J. D. Williams. – NRM 21548, 1, 267 mm SL;
NE part of Embalse del Guri, Zona F, near Dique F; 16
Feb 1994, J. D. Williams. – NRM 22920, 6, 55.6-60.2 mm
SL; NE Guri Reservoir, near dique F; 6 Jun 1994. J. D.
Williams et al. Brazil: Rio Negro drainage: Amazonas:
BMNH 1915.11.1:12, 1, 290 mm SL; Manaus; Clark. –
MZUSP 92402, 2, 146.2-200 mm SL; vicinity of Manaus;
15-23 Nov 1967, EPA. – MZUSP 6793, 7, 90.4-232 mm
SL; Igarapé Tarumãzinho, affluent no. 1; 17-18 Nov
1967, EPA. – MZUSP 6839, 12; Igarapé no 2 tributary to
Igarapé Tarumãzinho, N of Manaus; 18 Nov 1967, EPA.
– MZUSP 27214, 2; mun. Moura, Pedra do Gavião; 13
Nov 1982, L. Portugal. – MZUSP 92407, 6 juvs.; mun.
Novo Ayrão, extreme north of Reserva Ecologica
Anavilhanas; 6 Nov 1982, L. Portugal. – MZUSP 32758,
4, 261-278 mm SL; Rio Arirará near mouth; 8 Oct 1979,
M. Goulding. – MZUSP 33121, 2 (1 measured, 99.0 mm
SL); Ilha de Tamaquaré, central lake; 11 Oct 1979, M.
Goulding. – MZUSP 33124, 4; Barcelos; 29 Feb 1980, M.
Goulding. – MZUSP 33125, 1; Barcelos; 29 Jan 1980, M.
Goulding. – NRM 18347, 1, 65.2 mm SL; Paraná do
Marauiá; Jan 1987, M. Goulding – ZSM 23837, 4; Igarapé
Castanha at Manaus; 23 Oct 1965; J. Géry & E. J.
Fittkau. Rio Branco drainage: MZUSP 33122, 1; Roraima:
Marará, praia; 26 Oct 1979, M. Goulding. Rio
Amazonas drainage: MZUSP 6113, 1, 189 mm SL;
Amazonas: Lago Puraquequara at mouth of Rio Puraquequara;
17-19 Apr 1967, EPA. Drainage unknown:
MNHN A.1042 (221-18-1-13), 1, ca. 375 mm TL (ca.
310 mm SL); Brazil; no date, no collector; holotype of
Cichla argus Valenciennes. Country unknown: Rio
Orinoco drainage: BMNH 1853.1.11:16, 1, 140.8 mm SL;
Orenokko; no date, Frank.
Cichla cf. orinocensis: MBUCV-V 10287, 1, 82.3 mm
SL; Venezuela: Bolívar: Rio Cuyuni, raudal de Kinotovaca,
about 40 km S of El Dorado; 22 Jan 1977, F. Mago
Leccia.
Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other species
of Cichla by typical presence of three large dark
ocellated blotches along side (blotches 1, 2, 3), but
occasionally blotches 2 and 3 irregularly developed
or not ocellated. Lateral band abbreviated
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 17, No. 4
307
in juveniles. Distinguished from other species of
Cichla with abbreviated juvenile lateral band by
absence vs. presence of well defined vertical bars
in adults; from C. ocellaris also by lateral line
nearly always discontinuous vs. nearly always
continuous, by absence vs. presence of bars 1a
and 2a and absence vs. presence of abdominal
blotches; from C. kelberi, C. monoculus, and C. pleiozona
also by absence vs. presence of abdominal
blotches and occipital bar and presence vs. absence
of postorbital markings; from C. nigromaculata
also by absence vs. presence of bars 1a and
2a, and absence vs. presence of small black
blotches on dorsum.
Description. Refer to Figs. 10-19 for general shape
and colour pattern, Table 13 for morphometrics,
and Tables 2-10 for meristics.
Adults moderately deep (body depth 28.3-
32.6 % SL, N = 11, 200-291 mm SL). Frontal contour
straight ascending, levelling slightly in advance
of dorsal-fin origin; in two large males
(NRM 21548, NRM 21550), an incipient nuchal
protuberance with sharp flexure indicated. Maxilla
reaching to below anterior ~ of orbit. Lower
jaw prognathous, articulation below about posterior
ƒ of orbit. Lateral line bilaterally discontinuous
in 39 specimens, unilaterally subcontinuous
in one, and unilaterally continuous in three.
Dorsal spines 4-5, 5, or 5-6 longest; soft dorsal
fin rounded, not reaching to caudal-fin base. Soft
anal fin rounded, reaching to about ‚ of length
of caudal peduncle. Caudal-fin margin subtruncate
or, usually, slightly convex. Pectoral fin
pointed, fourth ray longest, reaching to posterior
base of anal fin or middle of caudal peduncle.
Pelvic fin pointed (large males) or subacuminate,
adjacent branches of first and second ray forming
tip, reaching about halfway to base of first soft
anal-fin ray, or slightly beyond.
Soft dorsal-fin squamation variable, from one
to two rows of scales basally between rays and
between branches of longer rays, to densely scaled
with four rows of scales between rays and one or
two rows between branches. Anal fin densely
scaled with three to four interradial scale rows
and one or two rows between branches. Caudal
fin densely scaled, except narrowly along posterior
margin, and middle of membranes between
rays D2 and V2. Pectoral fin scaled basally. Pelvic
fin densely scaled on both sides along anterior
margin.
In juveniles scales absent from fins except base