Apistogramma playayacu sp. n.: Description of a new cichlid species (Teleostei: Perciformes: Geophaginae) from the Rio Napo system, Ecuador

Apistogramma playayacu sp. n. is described based on a total of 41 specimens from tributaries of the Rio Napo from the border area between Ecuador and Peru (about 76°36′ W // 00°22′ S). The species is distinguished from all other Apistogramma species by the combination of 7 to 8 horizontal rows of mostly triangular black spots along the sides, horizontally devided spot on caudal base, rounded caudal fin, and straight narrow cheek stripe. The species is a moderately large (males up to 49 mm, females to 38 mm SL), high-backed, laterally compressed, and only slightly elongated Apistogramma species. Apistogramma playayacu sp. n. probably belongs to the Apistogramma macmasteri complex within the Apistogramma regani lineage (sensu Römer, 2006), and exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism.

[1]  U. Römer,et al.  Apistogramma cinilabra sp. n.: Description of a potentially endangered endemic cichlid species (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the Departamento Loreto, Peru , 2011, Vertebrate Zoology.

[2]  P. Vergara,et al.  Description of Dicrossus foirni sp. n. and Dicrossus warzeli sp. n. (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae), two new cichlid species from the Rio Negro and the Rio Tapajós, Amazon drainage, Brazil , 2010, Vertebrate Zoology.

[3]  I. Hahn,et al.  Apistogramma barlowi sp. n. - description of a new facultative mouth-brooding cichlid species (Teleostei: Perciformes: Geophaginae) from Northern Peru , 2008, Vertebrate Zoology.

[4]  G. Hein,et al.  Apistogramma rubrolineata sp n A new cichlid Teleostei Perciformes Cichlidae from the River Manuripi, Pando department, in Bolivia Apistogramma rubrolineata sp n Ein neuer Buntbarsch Teleostei Perciformes Cichlidae aus dem Rio Manuripi, Departamento Pando, in Bolivien , 2002 .

[5]  S. Kullander,et al.  Cichlid Fishes of the Amazon River Drainage of Peru , 1987 .

[6]  S. Kullander.  A new Apistogramma species (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Rio Negro in Brazil and Venezuela , 1987 .

[7]  A. Leviton,et al.  Standards in herpetology and ichthyology : Part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology , 1985 .

[8]  S. Kullander.  A taxonomic study of the genus Apistogramma Regan, with a revision of Brazilian and Peruvian species (Teleostei: Percoidei: Cichlidae) , 1980 .

[9]  S. Kullander.  Species of Apistogramma (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Orinoco Drainage Basin, South America, with Descriptions of Four New Species , 1979 .

[10]  U. Römer.  Apistogramma arua sp . n . ( Teleostei : Perciformes : Cichlidae ) , a new species of dwarf cichlid from the Rio Arapiuns system , Para State , Brazil , 2022 .