Pimelodus tetramerus sp. nov. differs from the other species of Pimelodus Lacepède by its typical coloration, with four dark stripes on the sides of the body, the most dorsal beginning just behind the pre-dorsal plate and finishing at the end of the adipose-fin base; the second, wider than the first one, running just above the lateral line and extending from the lateral border of the supra-occipital process to the caudal-fin base. Both are fragmented on its anterior portion, forming dark points that may join to form a vermiculate pattern. The dark dots and the vermiculate pattern extend over the dorsum, anterior to the dorsal-fin and head. The third stripe, also wide, runs just below the lateral line and begin near the upper region of the postcleithral process and extends until the caudal fin base. The fourth stripe, shorter than the three others, and absent in a few cases, begins above of the postcleithral process and ends nearly the pelvic fin. Moreover, the following are also diagnostic of the new species: presence a narrow light stripe on the lateral line, with about 1/3 of the width of the third dark stripe, and a dark longitudinal bar on the ventral lobe of caudal fin. The new species shares the three separate trigeminofacial nerve foramina with others species of pimelodids.
New species; "mandi"; taxonomy; lower Amazonas river
