Krobia petitella Steele, Liverpool & López-Fernández, 2013

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Cichlasomatinae
Max. size:  10.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 4.2 - 7.1
Distribution:  South America: Berbice River drainage in Guyana.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8; Vertebrae: 24-25. This species differs from all its congeners (Krobia guianensis Regan, K. itanyi Puyo and K. xinguensis Kullander) as well as the closely related ‘Aequidens’ potaroensis and ‘A’. paloemeuensis by tubed scales of the upper lateral line extending caudally into a line bisecting the lateral band blotches posterior to the mid-lateral spot. It can be further distinguished by the anterior lateral band spots lying immediately ventral to the upper lateral line, instead of being separated from the upper lateral line by a complete row of scales in all other species. It also possesses a unique lateral coloration pattern formed by the combination of six vertical bars and four lateral band spots (vs. 5 bars/3 or 4 spots in K. itanyi, 5/5 in K. guianensis, 7/6 in K. xinguensis, 6/6 in ‘Aequidens’ potaroensis, 5/5 in ‘A’. paloemeuensis). It can be further diagnosed by the combination of the following characters: separation of the caudal spot on the dorsal caudal fin lobe from the lower lateral line by one scale length; lacking a lateral band spot in bar 2; presence of two distinct interorbital stripes and a prominent preorbital stripe; significantly longer snout and longer fins than K. guianensis on average; lateral band extending to the posterior base of the dorsal fin; and lacking anterolateral spots on the lower jaw and a lateral band blotch located in the second vertical bar as seen in K. xinguensis in addition to having a longer snout and shallower body than K. xinguensis on average. It differs from ‘Aequidens’ potaroensis and ‘A.’ paloemeuensis by lacking lateral band spots on the caudal peduncle; and from ‘A.’ potaroensis by having a significantly deeper head, body and caudal peduncle as well as longer fins on average (Ref. 93940).
Biology:  Collected from a black water river with pH ranging from 4.2-7.1, conductivity of 2.0-39.0 μS , temperature of 25.0-33.3°C, current velocity typically ranging from 0.1-0.3 m/s, dissolved oxygen of 5.1-6.7 mg/L and Secchi depth 0.7-1.0 m (Ref. 93940).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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