A new species of Pyrrhulina is described based on 60 specimens from tributaries of the rio Amazonas: rio Anapu, rio Capim, rio Guamá and rio Xingu, and coastal drainages in the state of Pará, Brazil. The new species differs from all congeners by having the primary stripe (the horizontal stripe of dark pigmentation extending posteriorly from the snout) terminating at the distal edge of the opercle. In all other species of Pyrrhulina, the primary stripe is either restricted to the snout or continues beyond the head (i.e. at least the anteriormost four scales of the lateral line series).
Keywords: Color pattern; Freshwater fish; Pyrrhulininae; Taxonomy; Teleostei
Fig. Lateral view of Pyrrhulina capim, new species, rio São José, Bragança, Pará, Brazil. a. holotype, UFRGS 27300, 54.4 mm SL, male; b. paratype, UFRGS 25562, 40.4 mm SL, female.
Fig. Map of northern portion of South America, with the distribution of Pyrrhulina capim, new species. The polygons represent the localities of the holotype and paratypes.