Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species

Abstract

The genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker consists of three species long recognized as: P. fasciatum (Linnaeus), P. tigrinum (Valenciennes), and P. corruscans (Spix & Agassiz), and five species recently recognized or described here: P. punctifer (Castelnau), P. reticulatum Eigenmann & Eigenmann, P. orinocoense n. sp., P. metaense n. sp., and P. magdaleniatum n. sp. The eight species form a monophyletic group with two clades that are supported by anatomical features (i.e., skeletal anatomy and myology). One clade (P. tigrinum and P. metaense) is restricted to the Orinoco and Amazon basins, and the other clade, comprised of the remaining six species, is found in the Guyanas, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraná basins. The species are diagnosed on the basis of body shape, color pattern (e.g., bars, loops, and spots), skeletal anatomy, and vertebral numbers. Pseudoplatystoma punctifer and P. tigrinum) are sympatric in the Amazon Basin, P. metaense and P. orinocoense in the Orinoco Basin, and P. corruscans and P. reticulatum, are sympatric in the Paraná. Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum (Magdalena basin) and P. fasciatum (Guyanas) each occur as the only species of Pseudoplatystoma in their respective individual ranges. Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum may be sympatric with the two other species in the Amazon Basin, but we have no records of them being captured together in the mainstream or tributaries. All eight species are used as food in both commercial and subsistence fishing, and there is a moderate–sized ornamental fish market for the young and juveniles. A key to adults of the eight species is included.