Curimata vittata (Kner 1858)

Feeds on detritus (Ref. 12371).

aquarium: commercial

Curimata vittata Kner

Curimatus vittatus Kner, 1859:139, fig. 1 [type locality: Bolivia: Río Guaporé; Brazil: Rio Negro].—Günther, 1864:292 [copied from Kner, 1859].—Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1889:427 [Lake Hyanuary, Teffe (= Tefé)]; 1891:7 [reference].—Pellegrin, 1909:148 [Brazil: Rio Negro, Tonantins].—Eigenmann, 1910:422 [reference].—Steindachner, 1917:19 [Brazil: mouth of the Rio Negro, Rio Branco at Boa Vista, Rio Tocantins at Cameta].

Curimata murieli Allen, in Eigenmann and Allen, 1942:298, pl. 14: fig. 1 [type locality: Peru: Río Ucayali, Contamana],—Fowler, 1945:118 [copied],—1950:287, fig. 345 [reference].

Allenina murieli.—Fernández-Yépez, 1948:39, fig. 18 [designation as type species of Allenina].—Fowler, 1975:365 [reference].

Bitricarinata vittata.—Fernández-Yépez, 1948:65 [assignment to Bitricarinata].—Fowler, 1975:366 [references in part; not tentative synonymization of Curimatus bolivarcensis (= bolivarensis) Steindachner, 1910 with Curimatus vittatus].

Curimata vittata.—Fowler, 1950:293, fig. 355 [reference].—Géry, 1977b:230, 232 [in key, figure].—Goulding, 1981:39, 45, 60, 105, fig. 37 [fisheries, common name, migration].—Ortega and Varr, 1986:11 [Peru; common name].—Goulding et al., 1988:132, 134, 135, 140 [Brazil, Rio Negro system, Anavilhanas, Rio Marauiá, Rio Urubaxi, Dha Tamaquare; habitat preferences and diet].—Vari, 1988:333, fig. 10 [distribution]; 1989, tables 2, 3 [phylogenetic relationships].

DIAGNOSIS.—The distinctive pattern of 8 to 10 vertical or near vertical dark bars on the dorsal portion of the body (Figures 18,19) is unique to Curimata vittata within Curimata and the Curimatidae. Among Curimata species, the combination of a greatest body depth 0.30–0.39 in SL, and 8 or 9 branched anal-fin rays further distinguish C. vittata from all species other than C. incompta. Curimata incompta lacks the distinctive pigmentation pattern of C. vittata. The two forms are also separable by the 30 or 31 vertebrae of C. incompta which contrasts with the 32 vertebrae of Curimata vittata.

DESCRIPTION.—Body moderately elongate, relatively robust, more so in specimens over 90 mm SL. Dorsal profile of head nearly straight, somewhat more convex anterior to vertical through anterior margin of eye. Dorsal profile of body smoothly convex from rear of head to origin of dorsal fin; straight or slightly convex, and posteroventrally slanted at base of dorsal fin; straight or gently convex from base of last dorsal-fin ray to caudal peduncle. Dorsal body surface with an indistinct median keel anterior to rayed dorsal fin, smoothly rounded transversely posterior to fin. Ventral body profile gently curved from tip of lower jaw to origin of pelvic fin, somewhat more convex from that point to caudal peduncle, particularly at base of anal fin. Prepelvic region flattened, margined laterally by distinct, nearly right, longitudinal angles that extend from anteroventral margin of pectoral girdle to point of origin of pelvic fins. Flattened prepelvic region with a median series of enlarged scales, flanked on each side by a series of enlarged scales that conform in shape to lateral angle of body wall. A well developed midventral keel posterior to pelvic fin origin. Well developed median keel posterior to pelvic-fin origin with secondary obtuse angle in body wall approximately two scales dorsal of ventral midline on each side of postpelvic region of body.

Greatest body depth at origin of rayed dorsal fin, depth 0.30–0.39 [0.37]; snout tip to origin of rayed dorsal fin 0.47–0.54 [0.49]; snout tip to origin of anal fin 0.78–0.84 [0.83]; snout tip to origin of pelvic fin 0.51–0.57 [0.54]; snout tip to anus 0.72–0.80 [0.76]; origin of rayed dorsal fin to hypural joint 0.52–0.61 [0.58]. Rayed dorsal fin pointed, less so with increasing age; anteriormost branched rays somewhat filiform, 4.0–6.7 times length of ultimate ray. Pectoral fin pointed; length of pectoral fin 0.18–0.24 [0.18], extends distinctly beyond vertical through origin of pelvic fin in smaller adults, barely to or short of that line in largest specimens examined, particularly in individuals from Río Guaporé basin. Pelvic fin pointed, length of pelvic fin 0.18–0.26 [0.22], reaches anus in young adults, falls somewhat short of that point in larger specimens. Caudal fin forked; more so in juveniles. Adipose fin well developed. Anal fin emarginate, anteriormost branched rays 2.3–3.2 times length of ultimate ray. Caudal peduncle depth 0.11–0.13 [0.11].

Head distinctly pointed, head length 0.26–0.36 [0.32]; jaws equal, mouth inferior, upper jaw distinctly longer; snout length 0.27–0.33 [0.30]; nostrils of each side of head very close, anterior circular, posterior crescent shaped, only partially closed by thin flap of skin that separates nares; orbital diameter 0.28–0.35 [0.30]; adipose eyelid present, more developed in adults, with a vertically ovoid opening over middle of eye; length of postorbital portion of head 0.39–0.46 [0.41]; gape wide, width 0.26–0.35 [0.31], lower jaw distinctly triangular anteriorly; interorbital region flat, width 0.42–0.49 [0.44].

Pored lateral-line scales from supracleithrum to hypural joint 48 to 61 [52]; all scales of lateral-line pored, canals in scales irregularly diverge dorsally and ventrally; 4 to 7 series of scales extend beyond hypural joint onto caudal fin base; 12 to 16 [13] scales in transverse series from origin of rayed dorsal fin to lateral line, 8 to 10 [8] scales in transverse series from lateral line to origin of anal fin. Scale margins very weakly ctenoid.

Dorsal-fin rays ii,9 [ii,9]; anal-fin rays ii,7–9 or iii,8 [ii,8]; pectoral-fin rays 14 to 16 [15]; pelvic-fin rays i,9–10 [i,9].

Total vertebrae 32 (20).

COLOR IN LIFE.—Overall coloration bright silvery, darker dorsally. Vertical bars on body apparent in juveniles, somewhat to distinctly masked by guanine on scales in adults.

COLOR IN ALCOHOL.—Specimens that retain guanine on scales silvery, overall coloration darker on dorsal portions of head and body. Specimens that lack guanine on scales yellowish-tan to brown. Adults with ten vertical bars along dorsal half of body, bars of each side in contact along dorsal midline. First bar runs obliquely posteroventrally from posterodorsal margin of head to posterdorsal margin of opercle. Second bar extends posteroventrally from midway along nape to reach or fall slightly short of lateral line. Remaining bars vertical or nearly so. Third bar commences at insertion of rayed dorsal fin and extends to about four scales above lateral line. Fourth bar begins midway along base of rayed dorsal fin, fifth at posterior of base of that fin. Sixth through eighth bars located between rayed and adipose dorsal fins. Ninth bar at posterior of base of adipose fin. Tenth bar on caudal peduncle, sometimes followed posteriorly by another bar on caudal peduncle at base of fin rays of upper lobe of caudal fin. Form of bars somewhat variable. Some populations with bars variably broken into two large spots, or three or four smaller spots arranged in vertical or near vertical patterns. An irregular longitudinal stripe along lateral line; pigmentation of stripe less pronounced than that of bars. Anterior portion of stripe somewhat irregular, anteriormost section sometimes confluent with second vertical bar. Both bars and stripe less apparent in specimens retaining guanine on scales, particularly larger specimens in which bars are nearly totally masked by guanine.

Number of bars in juveniles eight to ten, with ontogenetic subdivision of some bars resulting in ten bars in adults. Each bar in smaller juveniles extends from dorsal midline to somewhat ventral of lateral line. Ventralmost portions of bars become detached from dorsal sections ontogenetically and subsequently expand horizontally to coalesce into dark midside stripe found in adults.

No prominent pigmentation pattern on fins; rays of all fins, particularly caudal and rayed dorsal outlined by series of small chromatophores. Similar pigmentation present, but less pronounced on other fins.

DISTRIBUTION.—Rio Amazonas and possibly upper Río Orinoco drainage basins (see “Remarks”) (Figure 20).

COMMON NAME.—Brazil: Roncador (Kner, 1859; Goulding, 1981); Peru: Yahuarachi (Ortega and Vari, 1986:11).

LIFE HISTORY.—Goulding et al. (1988:132, 134, 135, 140) report that Curimatus vitatta feeds mainly on detritus. The species occurs in a variety of habitats within the Rio Negro basin, most notably beaches, swamps, and lakes on the center of islands in the main river channel.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—194 specimens (61, 33.9–187.0 mm SL).

BRAZIL. Pará: Santarem market, CAS uncat., 1 (130.0); CAS uncat., 2 (134.5–149.4); CAS uncat., 1 (127.0); CAS uncat., 1 (164.4). Rio Tapajós, Itaituba, USNM 268019, 8. Tocantins, NMW 68803, 1. Rio Trombetas, Oriximiná, MZUSP 5416, 3. Rio Trombetas, Cumina, USNM 268017, 2. Rio Xingu, Belo Monte, USNM 268016, 1. Amazonas: Lago Hyanuary (= Januari), MCZ 27409, 1 (110.0); MZUSP 6859, 2 (108.5–109.1). Rio Solimöes, GC, 5 (3, 71.0–89.7). Rio Negro near Manaus, GC, 1 (84.3); MZUSP 6683, 17 (5, 78.5–90.1); MZUSP 6113, 1. Manaus, MNHN 09-87-88, 2; MNHN 09-103, 1; MZUSP 9575, 1. Rio Negro, Cucui at border with Colombia, USNM 267316, 1 (83.3); CAS-SU 64164, 2 (48.7–50.2). Rio Negro, Darara, USNM 267330, 1 (62.0). Rio Negro, Marauia, USNM 267319,4. Rio Negro, Ilhade Tamaraquar (Tapuruquara), USNM 267340, 10. Mouth of the Rio Marauia, MZUSP uncat, 2. Rio Negro, Arirara, MZUSP uncat, 1. Rio Negro, Paraná de Jacare, USNM 267332, 3; MZUSP uncat, 1. Rio Negro, Anavilhanas, Lago do Prato, USNM 268018, 1. Rio Canumä, MZUSP 7042,5 (93.5–141.0). Rio Jauaperi, MZUSP 21051, 1; MZUSP 21153, 2; MZUSP 21148,1. Igarapé do Rio Marau, municipio de Maués, MZUSP 7320, 3. Lago Manacapuru, MZUSP 5875, 1. Igarapé Tarumãzinha, MZUSP 6785, 7 (128.0–142.1). Paraná de Janauacá, USNM 229200, 5 (2, 74.9–95.2). Lago Janauacá, MZUSP 2158, 1. Rio Uatumá, INPA UAT-072, 1; INPA UAT-73, 1; INPA UAT-201, 1. Rio Solimões between Manaus and Tefé, GC, 6 (3, 145.1–150.6). Teffe (= Tefé), MCZ 20251, 2 (1, 183.0). Rio Tefé, Jurupari, USNM 242131, 2. Rio Tefé, USNM 242132, 9. Rio Tonantins, MNHN 09-235-237, 3. Rio Maderia, 7 km from Humaitá, GC, 1 (159.2). Rio Machado, Santo Antonio, Lago do Mucuium, MZUSP 29566, 15. Roramia: Rio Branco, Boa Vista, NMW 68804, 1. Rondonia: Rio Guaporé, Lagoa Santa 15 km above Costa Marques, INPA POLO-070, 3.

ECUADOR. Napo Pastaza: Lago Jatuncocha, BMNH 1970.4.3.82, 1 (173.5).

COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Leticia, GC, 1. Río Amazonas 30 km upstream from Leticia, MCZ uncat, 1 (33.9).

VENEZUELA. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Río Orinoco (? Río Atabapo, see “Remarks,” above), MNHN 87-677, 1. Río Negro near Santa Lucia, USNM 269914, 5.

PERU. Loreto: Pevas, MNRJ 4103, 9. Río Ampiyacu, CAS-SU 64236, 2 (30.8–35.2). Yaguasyacu near Pebas, CAS-SU 17247, 11 (63.5–110.2). Contamana, CAS 57148, 1 (67.7, holotype of Curimata murieli, formerly IU 17853). Tipischa Santa Elena (Río Tigre), MZUSP 15236, 1. Río Mazán upstream of Puerto Alegre, NRM SOK/1984332.4051, 2. Río Pastaza basin, Lago Rimachi, MZUSP 15235, 1. Ucayali: Cashibococha, Pucallpa, MZUSP 26307, 3; MZUSP 26308, 2.

BOLIVIA. Beni: Río Guaporé, NMW 16363, 1 (180.0, paralectotype of Curimatus vittatus); NMW 68805.1,1 (164.5, lectotype of Curimatus vittatus); NMW 68805.2, 1 (187.0, paralectotype of Curimatus vittatus). Río Beni, Laguna Pintado, 5 km S Río Itenez, 4 km SW Costa Marques, Brazil, AMNH 37705, 2 (128.3–132.0).