Abstract

PEREZ-RODRIGUEZ, Rodolfo; PEREZ-PONCE DE LEON, Gerardo; DOMINGUEZ-DOMINGUEZ, Omar  and  DOADRIO, Ignacio. A new species of Algansea (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) from the Ameca River basin, in Central Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2009, vol.80, n.2, pp.483-490. ISSN 2007-8706.

A morphological comparative analysis was performed among different populations of the cyprinid Algansea tincella Valenciennes, 1844 from the Lerma-Chapala and Ameca River basins in central Mexico. A new species, Algansea amecae n. sp. is described from individuals collected from small tributary in the headwaters of the Ameca basin. The new species differs from Lerma-Chapala populations of A. tincella by having a lower number of transversal scales, a lower number of infraorbital pores, a prominent dark lateral stripe along the body, a black caudal spot extending onto the medial caudal inter-radial membranes, and a pigmented ("dotted") lateral line. This new species increases the high level of endemism in the freshwater ichthyofauna of the Ameca basin. It appears to be most closely related to populations in the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago system, as is the case for several other species in the Ameca basin. This pattern of relationship provides evidence for a historical connection between the 2 basins, and implies that a vicariance event led to the isolation of populations and a subsequent speciation event. Due to the limited distributional range of Algansea amecae n. sp., and the environmental deterioration of the Ameca River, we propose that this new species should be designated as a protected species under Mexican law.

Keywords : Algansea amecae n. sp.; Cyprinidae; North America; central Mexico; morphological analysis; freshwater fishes.