Three new species of seasonal killifishes of the Simpsonichthys antenori species group (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the rio São Francisco basin, Brazil

Abstract

Three new species of the Simpsonichthys antenori group from the upper sections of eastern drainages of the middle rio São Francisco, serra do Espinhaço, are described. Simpsonichthys janaubensis, new species, from the rio Gorutuba floodplains, upper rio Verde Grande drainage, shares a derived color pattern of anal fin in males with S. flavicaudatus and S. flagellatus, but differs from them in having a more slender body, a shorter anal-fin base, and a distinctive color pattern of the dorsal fin in males. Simpsonichthys mediopapillatus, new species, from the rio São Domingos drainage, a part of the upper rio Verde Grande drainage, is similar to S. ghisolfii in having a long urogenital papilla and a light orangish-yellow subdistal stripe on the anal fin in males, and it is distinguished from all congeners in having a median neuromast on the posterior rostral series. Simpsonichthys macaubensis, new species, from the upper rio Paramirim drainage, differs from other species of the S. antenori group by a combination of features, including presence of contact organs on the flank in males, dorsal and anal-fin filaments reaching central portion of caudal fin in males, urogenital papilla short in males, and anal fin yellow, with a distal black stripe and iridescent dots over the entire fin in males. A key for identification of species of the S. antenori group is provided.