Deuterodon sazimai
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| Deuterodon sazimai | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Genus: | Deuterodon |
| Species: | D. sazimai |
| Binomial name | |
| Deuterodon sazimai | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Probolodus sazimai Santos & Castro, 2014 | |
Deuterodon sazimai is a small freshwater fish endemic to a handful of river basins in southeastern Brazil. Upon being first described, it was considered a member of genus Probolodus; Probolodus is now considered obsolete, synonymized with Deuterodon. Much like other members of Deuterodon, and like some species in related genera like Astyanax or Jupiaba, D. oyakawai is a silvery fish with fins in some combination of red and clear. It sports a wedge-shaped humeral spot, and an oval-shaped blotch on its tail joint.
This species demonstrates lepidophagy, or scale-eating, which is not uncommon in closely related congeners. Its most likely targets include other members of Deuterodon. Its diet is occasionally supplemented by leaves and insects, though these are rare additions. Further details, regarding aspects such as behavior and biotope preferences, are sparse.
Etymology
Deuterodon sazimai was originally described as Probolodus sazimai upon nomination by a Brazilian research team in 2014. Some databases, such as GBIF[3] and the Encyclopedia of Life,[4] still list it as a member of Probolodus. However, the genera Probolodus and Myxiops were synonymized with Deuterodon as part of a 2020 study that closely examined the phylogeny of Astyanax and related groups, such as Psalidodon, Andromakhe, Makunaima, and Deuterodon itself.[5] This updated classification is reflected in databases like FishBase,[6] the World Register of Marine Species,[7] and Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes.[8]
The genus name "Deuterodon" is Greek. It comes from "deuteros", which means "second" or "repeated", and "odon", which means "tooth"; this is in reference to the similarity of all teeth in the lower jaw. The specific name "sazimai" honors Ivan Sazima, an ichthyologist from the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas of São Paulo, Brazil. Sazima is notable for contributions to the knowledge of neotropical lepidophagous characiform fishes.[9]
Description
Deuterodon sazimai is a small fish, reaching a maximum of 5.7 cm (2.2 in) SL (standard length, with the tail fin left out of the measurement).[6] The body is somewhat compressed and deep; this is more evident in smaller specimens, and body depth can vary between populations, though there is significant overlap between those located near each other. The lateral line has 36–43 pored scales, which can be used to differentiate it from congeners; D. heterostomus, for instance, has 45–56 scales therein.[10] There are 11 dorsal-fin rays, 26–32 anal-fin rays, 12–13 pectoral-fin rays, 7–8 ventral-fin rays, and 19 caudal-fin rays.[11]
The coloration in life is generally similar to relatives such as Deuterodon heterostomus and Deuterodon oyakawai, with a base silver and fins that are reddish or clear. When preserved in alcohol, the base color changes to a yellowish-brown, with some remaining silver due to guanine. The back darkens to a brownish color because of the chromatophores concentrated in the middle and base of the scales (lacking at the margins), and the body remains pale below the lateral line. There is a large, wedge-shaped humeral spot, and a dark lateral stripe that leads to another blotch of pigment on the caudal peduncle, shaped like a horizontal oval.[11]
Sexual dimorphism
Large, mature males may develop backwards-facing bony hooks on some rays of the anal fin.[11]