Bryconops magoi and Bryconops collettei (Characiformes: Characidae), two new freshwater fish species from Venezuela, with comments on B. caudomaculatus (Günther)

Abstract

Bryconops collettei and B. magoi  are described from the Caura and Miamo (Bolívar State), Iguapo (Amazonas State) and Moquete (Anzoátegui State) rivers, Venezuela.  These new species belong to the subgenus Bryconops, based upon apomorphies of the jaws and gill rakers and are compared with members of the subgenus.  Based on morphology, meristics and color patterns, B. collettei and B. magoi are distinguished from B. caudomaculatus, the closest species in the subgenus, by having a generally more slender body, pored scales of the lateral line extending beyond the hypural plate, and a diffuse ocellus partially filled with red color only on the upper lobe of the caudal fin.  Bryconops collettei is distinguished from B. magoi on the basis of meristic and morphometric characteristics.  B. caudomaculatus has been largely misidentified in the literature and we provide comments as a guide to its proper recognition.