Conjectures and refutations: Species diversity and phylogeny of Australoheros from coastal rivers of southern South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Abstract

Morphological and genetic analyses of species ofAustraloherosfocusing on those distributed in coastal rivers from the Rio de La Plata north to the Rio Buranhém, support recognition of 17 valid species in the genus. Eight species are represented in coastal rivers:A acaroides,A.facetus,A.ipatinguensis,A.oblongus,A.ribeirae, andA.sanguineusare validated from earlier descriptions.Australoheros mboapariis a new species from the Rio Taquari in the Rio Jacuí drainage.Australoheros ricaniis a new species from the upper Rio Jacuí. Specimens from the Rio Yaguarón and Rio Tacuary, affluents of Laguna Merín, and tributaries of the Rio Negro, tributary of the Rio Uruguay are assigned toA.minuanopending critical data on specimens from the type locality ofA.minuano.Australoheros taurais a junior synonym ofA.acaroides.Australoheros autrani,A.saquarema,A.capixaba,A.macaensis,A.perdi, andA.muriaeare junior synonyms ofA.ipatinguensis.Heros autochthon,A.mattosi,A.macacuensis,A.montanus,A.tavaresi,A.paraibae, andA.barbosae, are junior synonyms ofA.oblongus.Heros jenynsiiis a junior synonym ofA.facetus.