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caudal fin base, blackish blotch at caudal fin base,
and narrow greyish vertical bars 1-3. Light spots
visible on dorsum.
In young specimen photographed alive near
Altair (Fig. 47), estimated to be about 150 mm SL,
horizontal band absent, bars 1-3 distinct, crossing
side from dorsum to below level of pectoral fin
base, also one or two very narrow dark vertical
markings between principal bars. Dorsum and
middle side with about five irregular rows of
yellowish spots.
Large adult, estimated length 300 mm SL,
photographed alive in São Felix do Xingu (Stawikowski
& Werner, 2004: 39, upper photo) overall
blue green with yellow branchiostegal membrane.
Colour pattern obscured by reflections, but obviously
including narrow vertical bars and small
light spots on middle of side and caudal peduncle.
Two adult market specimens (Fig. 48) photographed
at Balneário do Pedral display small
nuchal protuberances, and may be in breeding
colour. Side yellowish, abdomen and underside
of head white. Black vertical bars prominent, from
dorsum to about level of pectoral fin base. Numerous
minute, light-margined black spots scattered
over side; similar small spots also on side of head
but few and much smaller. Indications of a medial
bar 1a in one specimen and bar 2a in one
specimen. Caudal ocellus ringed with gold.
Geographical distribution. Only three localities
in the lower Rio Xingu drainage are verified by
preserved material (Fig. 9). The Balneário do
Pedral is located on the Rio Xingu about 8 km
from Altamira. The type locality, Cachoeira do
Espelho is located 13 km south of Altamira. The
third locality, Gorotire, is located on the lower
course of the Rio Fresco. At Balneário do Pedral,
specimens were collected in shallow water,
pH 6.5, less than 1 dGH, and temperature 30-
32 °C, in strong current among lava rocks (Stawikowski
& Werner, 2004: 40).
Etymology. Named for Melanie L. J. Stiassny,
Curator of Fishes in the American Museum of
Natural History, in recognition of her significant
contribution to cichlid systematics.
Notes. Cichla melaniae occurs in the Xingu river
drainage downstream from localities of C. mirianae.
Because both species are known only from
few localities and few specimens from each local-
ity it may, however, be premature to conclude
that they are allopatric.
The two species differ in the colour pattern of
young and adults. No juveniles are known of
C. mirianae, but specimens about 100 mm are
known from both species. At this size, C. mirianae
displays distinct lateral ocelli, whereas C. mela niae
displays only narrow vertical bars. This colour
difference persists in larger specimens, and
C. melaniae also displays a pattern of minute black
and white spots on the middle side as adult commonly
with the black spots margined with white,
unlike C. mirianae which never shows minute
black spots on the side except for those contained
in the irregular lateral band, which in turn is
absent (but cf. below) from C. melaniae.
Photographs of large specimens of Cichla in
the aquarium trade said to come from the Rio
Xingu, exemplified by Stawikowski & Werner
(2004: 39, lower photo), depart in colour pattern
from that of preserved specimens and photographs
of fresh caught specimens by displaying
a narrow, irregular black horizontal band along
the side, margined with white, only faint greyish
vertical bars, and one or two vertical bars of same
colour between the principal bars.
Cichla piquiti, new species
(Figs. 49-54)
Holotype. MZUSP 40296, young male, 219 mm
SL; Brazil: Pará: Rio Itacaiúnas at Caldeirão; Apr-
May 1983, M. Goulding.
Paratypes. 56 specimens, ca. 20-430 mm SL. Brazil:
Rio Araguaia drainage: MZUSP 50240, 4,
184-249 mm SL; Mato Grosso: Rio das Mortes;
1950, Expedição Butantan. – MZUSP 50242, 3,
212-214 mm SL; Goiás: Lago Rico, near Cocalinho;
Mar 1976, EMGOPA. Rio Tocantins drainage:
INPA 24063, 2, 207-220 mm SL; Pará: Rio Tocantins,
Itupiranga; Nov. 1980, Equipe de Ictiologia
do INPA. – MZUSP 40397, 3, 127.9- ca 143 mm SL;
Goiás: mun Flores de Goiás, Fazenda Fortaleza,
Rio Macacos, tributary to Rio Macaquinhos; 10
Sep 1988, J. C. de Oliveira et al. – MZUSP 40926,
1, 298 mm SL, 2, ca 43- ca 68 mm SL; Goiás: mun
Flores de Goiás, Fazenda Olho d’Agua, Poço do
Gandaia, marginal lake of Rio Paranã; 21 Jan 1989,
J. C. de Oliveira et al. – MZUSP 50256, 4, 97.1-
126.3 mm SL; Pará: lagoa at Jatobal; 16 Sep 1970,
EPA. – NRM 12711, 1, 146.6 mm SL; Pará: harbour
Kullander & Ferreira: Review of Cichla