New genus of electric fish found in remote area of South America
New genus of electric fish found in remote area of South America
Published: Sept. 26, 2013 at 4:55 PM
TORONTO, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A new genus of electric fish was identified in a remote of South America, an international team of researchers said.
The Akawaio penak, a thin, eel-like electric fish, was discovered in the shallow, murky waters of the upper Mazaruni River in northern Guyana, the University of Toronto-Scarborough said earlier this week in a release.
Professor Nation Lovejoy's team at the University of Toronto-Scarborough analysed tissue samples collected during a recent expedition by a team of researchers led by Hernan Lopez-Fernandez at the Royal Ontario Museum.
By sequencing its DNA and reconstructing an evolutionary tree, Lovejoy's team discovered the fish that is so distinct it represents a new genus, the university said.
More:
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2013/09/26/New-genus-of-electric-fish-found-in-remote-area-of-South-America/UPI-15311380228957/#ixzz2g2JdCSzx
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Species New to Science
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
{Ichthology • 2013} Akawaio penak • a new genus and species of Neotropical electric fish (Gymnotiformes, Hypopomidae) endemic to the upper Mazaruni River in the Guiana Shield
Akawaio penak, a new genus and species, is described from the upper Mazaruni River, Guyana. The new species is diagnosed from all other species of Hypopomidae by several anatomical traits. The phylogenetic affinities of the new genus were inferred using data from one nuclear (rag2) and two mitochondrial (COI and cyt b) genes. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that Akawaio is the sister taxon of a clade that includes Brachyhypopomus, Hypopomus, Microsternarchus and Racenisia. These results provide evidence for the phylogenetic composition of Hypopomidae supported by previous molecular studies and support the position of the Steatogenini (Hypopygus + Steatogenys) as the sister group of Rhamphichthys + Gymnorhamphichthys. The description of this new electric knifefish increases the total number of endemic genera and species in the upper Mazaruni, a region that is suffering freshwater habitat degradation as consequence of gold-mining activities.
[center]Akawaio gen. n
Akawaio penak sp. n.
Holotype: CSBD 1654 (208 mm TL), Guyana, Zone 7, Kamarang, Mazaruni River.[/center]
Etymology: This genus is named in honour of the Akawaio Amerindians that populate the region of the upper Mazaruni and to recognize their valuable help while studying the fishes of their lands. To be regarded as a masculine noun. The species name is from the Akawaio name ‘penak’, which is apparently used unambiguously for this species. To be regarded as a masculine noun in apposition.
More:
http://novataxa.blogspot.com/2013/08/akawaio-penak.html