Two new species of Pseudopimelodus Bleeker, 1858 (Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae) from the Magdalena Basin, Colombia

Material studied

The material examined is deposited in museums and institutions as described below and institutional abbreviations used in the present study are listed in Sabaj (2019).

Pseudopimelodus bufonius: Guyana: Upper Essequibo River Basin: Takutu River: AUM 38248, 1, 72.3 mm SL; Rupunini River: AUM 38292, cleared and stained (C&S) specimen, 58.6 mm SL; AUM 48352, 1, 74.3 mm SL; Potaro-Siparuni: AUM 45384, 1, 87.6 mm SL. Colombia: Upper Amazon River Basin: Vaupés River: IMCN 8230, 5, 137.4–221.7 mm SL. Orinoco River Basin: Upper Meta River Drainage: Negro River: IMCN 8231, 13, 118.3–191.0 mm SL. Venezuela: Orinoco River Basin: Apure River Drainage: Bocono River: MCNG 5307, 4, 103.4–123.5 mm SL.

Pseudopimelodus schultzi: Colombia: Sinú River: IMCN 8241, 12 (2 C&S), 174–305 mm SL.

Pseudopimelodus mangurus: Argentina: Upper La Plata River Basin: Paraná River: IMCN 8441, 2, 117.7–137.9 mm SL.

Pseudopimelodus charus: Brazil: Sao Francisco river drainage: LBP10489, 1, 123.1 mm SL; LBP 11308, 1, 154.5 mm SL.

In addition, the morphological comparisons with Pseudopimelodus charus were based on the figure of Valenciennes published in Mees (1974).

Phylogenetic analyses

Phylogenetic analysis was conducted with MrBayes (MB) v3.2 (Ronquist et al., 2012) using COI haplotype sequences from Pseudopimelodus specimens (Table 1), belonging to lineages 1 and 5 described by Rangel-Medrano, Ortega-Lara & Márquez (2020). Haplotypes were compared with GenBank COI sequences of remaining members of the family Pseudopimelodidae (Table 1), using HKY+G as the best-fit evolutionary model estimated in IQ-TREE software (Kalyaanamoorthy et al., 2017). Two Pimelodid species (Pimelodus yuma and Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum) were used as outgroups. Chain parameters included two independent Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) iterations for 20 million generations sampled every 1,000 generations, discarding the first 25% sampled generations as burn-in; remaining parameters were left as default. Convergence of the MCMC was assessed based on the Potential Scale Reduction Factor which should approach 1.0 as runs converge and considering the standard deviation of split frequencies which should approach 0. Trees were summarized according to their estimated posterior probability to produce a consensus tree, using the same burn-in as the MCMC. The final tree was visualized with the program FigTree v1.4.2 (Rambaut, 2014). Nodes were considered well supported with posterior probabilities ≥ 0.95 (Wilcox et al., 2002). Finally, following the DNA barcoding of freshwater fishes (Hubert et al., 2008), the pair-wise divergences of Pseudopimelodus haplotype sequences was estimated using the Kimura 2 parameter model in MEGA v6.06 (Tamura et al., 2013).

Morphological analyses

Measurements followed standard procedures of Shibatta & Vari (2017) using dial calipers to 0.1 mm on the left side of specimens. Standard length is expressed in mm. Except for subunits of the head which are expressed as percentages of head length, all measurements are expressed as percentages of standard length. Counts were made on the left side of the body when possible. Counts of dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, and anal fin rays, as well as principal and procurrent caudal-fin rays were taken from dried skeletons (DS), cleaned using dermestid beetles, C&S specimens following Taylor & Van Dyke (1985) and radiographs (RX) of paratypes. Vertebral counts include the five fused vertebrae of the Weberian apparatus and one single element of the compound caudal centrum (pleural 1 + ural 1 centrum). Length of the posterior process of cleithrum was measured from dorsal origin to its posterior end. Width of the pectoral-fin spine was measured at its base. Length of the Weberian complex was measured in ventral view, longitudinally from anterior to posterior mesial ends of centrum and was related to the length of the neurocranium, which was measured from the mesial anterior margin of the mesethmoid to posterior margin of the basioccipital. Osteological nomenclature follows Arratia (2003a) and Arratia (2003b).

The electronic version of this article in Portable Document Format (PDF) will represent a published work according to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and hence the new names contained in the electronic version are effectively published under that Code from the electronic edition alone. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix http://zoobank.org/. The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 8B78D766-07A3-47A8-A12C-F55958703ACB. The online version of this work is archived and available from the following digital repositories: PeerJ, PubMed Central and CLOCKSS.

Molecular analysis

Phylogenetic tree based on Bayesian Inference (Fig. 1), showed well-supported clades corresponding to samples here proposed as new species (Pseudopimelodus magnus and P. atricaudus). Pseudopimelodus magnus was recovered sister to P. schultzi from the Sinú River (H25 and H26) and both clades along with P. bufonius from the Orinoco, appear as the sister-clade to P. bufonius from Amazonian rivers, P. mangurus, and P. charus. In contrast, P. atricaudus is sister to the remaining Pseudopimelodus species analyzed.

Kimura 2 parameters genetic distance was relatively small for P. atricaudus (0.003–0.006), P. magnus (0.003–0.020), and P. schultzi (0.020), whereas was larger between P. bufonius samples (0.011–0.068). The smallest Kimura 2 parameters genetic distance was observed between P. bufonius from Orteguaza and P. mangurus (0.026), whereas the largest genetic distance was observed between P. schultzi and P. atricaudus (0.113).

Pseudopimelodus magnus, sp. nov. (Fig. 2)

Pseudopimelodus bufonius [not Valenciennes, 1840]. —Steindachner, 1880: 59 [Cauca River; description]. —Miles, 1947: 64 [Magdalena River Basin; check list]. —Dahl, 1971: 54 [Magdalena River Basin; check list]. —Maldonado-Ocampo et al., 2005: 159 fig. 150 [Magdalena-Cauca River basin; check list].

Pseudopimelodus schultzi [not Dahl, 1955]. —Ortega-Lara et al., 2006: 49 [upper Cauca Basin; check list]. —Ortega-Lara, Rivas & Rincón, 2011: 447 [fishery: Magdalena River Basin].

Pseudopimelodus zungaro [not Humboldt, 1833]. —Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1890: 112 [Goiás, Brazil]. —Eigenmann, 1922: 32 [in part, Magdalena-Cauca River Basin; identification key].

Holotype. CIUA 5142, 750 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Feb 2018, Restrepo-Gómez A.M.

Paratypes. ANDES I210, 2, 232.9–248.5 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9.5″W, Feb 2016, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CIUA 5163, 1, 531.7 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Nov 2014, Olaya G. CP-UCO 3860, 1, 217.7 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Nov 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CP-UCO 3861, 1 230.1 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Achí, 8°34′8.1″N, 74°33′10.9″W, Oct 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CP-UCO 3862, 1, 177.9 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Feb 2016, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. ICN-MHN 24386, 1, 326.84 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9.5″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. IMCN 0060, 1, 106 mm SL, Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Upper Cauca River Basin, Cauca River in Tuluá town, ca 4°6′55″N, 76°17′47″W, Nov 1995, Victoria P. IMCN 0285, 1, 228 mm SL, Colombia, Cauca, Upper Cauca River Basin, Ovejas River in Suárez, ca. 2°57′41″N, 76°40′39″W, Nov 1995, Usma S. IMCN 2349, 2 DS, 157.4–408 mm SL, Colombia, Cauca, Upper Cauca River Basin, Cauca River in El Hormiguero, Municipality of Puerto Tejada, ca. 3°18′05″N, 76°28′39″W, 5 Nov 2002, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 3885, 2, 57.3–62.5 mm SL, Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Upper Cauca River Basin, La Vieja River in Cartago town, ca. 4°45′48″N, 75°55′27″W, 31 Aug 2004, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8234, 6, 1 DS, 268.1–340 mm SL, Colombia, Huila, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in El Quimbo dam, Municipality of Garzón, ca. 2°11′05″N, 75°39′44″W, 29 Aug 2015, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8239, 1 C&S, not measured, Colombia, Cauca, Cauca River Basin, Cauca River in El Hormiguero, Municipality of Puerto tejada, ca. 3°18′25″N, 76°28′26″W, 1 Mar 2003, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8265, 1 DS, 213.7 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39″47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Feb 2016, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. IMCN 8267, 1 DS, 193.3 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.61″N, 75°50′9″W, Feb 2016, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. IMCN 8269, 1 RX, 217 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River, Valdivia stream in Puerto Valdivia, 7°17′17.7″N, 75°23′32.1″W, Feb 2015, Olaya G. IMCN 8270, 1 RX, 294.2 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.61″N, 75°50′9″W, Apr 2015, Olaya G. IMCN 8939, 16, 171–475 mm SL, Colombia, Cauca, Upper Cauca River Basin, Cauca River in El Hormiguero, Municipality of Puerto Tejada, ca. 3°18′05″N, 76°28′39″W, 22 Dic 2011, Ortega-Lara A.

Non-type material

CIUA 405, 53.8 mm SL Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Cauca River Basin, La Vieja River, 4°41′9.8″N, 75°50′57.7″W, Aug 2006, Ochoa L., Montoya A.F. CIUA 512, 160 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Cauca River Basin, Cauca River in Bolombolo, 5°58′01.3″N, 75°50′26.5″W, Aug 2006, Ochoa L., Montoya A.F.

Diagnosis. Pseudopimelodus magnus differs from its congeners by the total number of vertebrae (43–44, Fig. 3A vs. 39 in P. atricaudus Fig. 3B; 38 in P. bufonius; 38–40 in P. mangurus; 41 in P. schultzi) and by the deeply acute notch on lateral margins of transverse process of the fourth vertebra of the Weberian complex (Fig. 4A vs. shallowly concave in P. atricaudus, P. bufonius, P. mangurus, and P. schultzi). It differs from P. atricaudus by the angle of < 90° formed by the medial junction of the posterior arm of the transverse process of the fourth vertebra (Figs. 4 and 5 vs. angle almost right). It differs from P. atricaudus and P. mangurus by length ratio of Weberian complex and neurocranium (32.1–36.3%, Fig. 5 vs. 46.9–55.5 in P. atricaudus and 42.7% in P. mangurus). It differs from P. atricaudus, P. bufonius, and P. mangurus by having shorter maxillary barbels, not surpassing the opercular margin (vs. reaching). Additionally, P. magnus differs from the remaining species, except P. atricaudus, by the length of the posterior process of cleithrum (1.32–1.59 times the wide of the pectoral-fin spine base vs. 0.57–0.75 in P. bufonius, 2.22–2.76 in P. schultzi, 2.24–2.30 in P. mangurus). It differs from P. bufonius, P. charus, and P. mangurus by having a heart-shaped gas bladder (vs. dumbbell-shaped bladder; Fig. 6; (Shibatta & Vari, 2017). It differs from P. atricaudus by having the anterior margin of the dorsal-fin spine serrated (vs. smooth). Pseudopimelodus magnus differs from congeners except P. bufonius and P. schultzi by having a narrow vertical dark band along the center of caudal fin, although in some specimens is hardly visible (vs. broad vertical dark band covering ≤ $\frac{1}{2}$ caudal fin in P. charus and P. mangurus or $\frac{3}{4}$ of the caudal fin with base of rays and tip of caudal-fin lobes hyaline in P. atricaudus).

Description. Morphometric data in Table 2. Body depressed from snout tip to dorsal-fin origin; progressively compressed towards caudal-fin base. Snout rounded in dorsal view. Head trapezoidal, depressed, slightly longer than wide. Head covered by thick skin hiding fontanel and cranial roof bones. Eye small, covered by skin and positioned latero-dorsally. Prognathous jaw. Teeth small and villiform; premaxilla laterally projected backwards and reaching lateral process of lateral ethmoid. Anterior nostril tubular located lateroposteriorly to maxillary barbel base (Fig. 2). Posterior nostril equidistant from anterior nostril and eye. Maxillary barbel not reaching opercular margin. Mental barbel anteriorly inserted to gular apex. Inner mental barbel reaching gular apex. Outer mental barbel not reaching branchial opening. Gular fold V-shaped, with conspicuously pointed apex (Fig. 2). Branchiostegal membrane free from isthmus. Posterior process of vomer bifurcated. Posterior process of cleithrum triangular, its length 1.25–1.59 times width of pectoral-spine base. Vomer T-shaped, in contact with parasphenoid, mesethmoid, and lateral ethmoid. Posterior region of mesethmoid wider than base of parieto-supraoccipital process (Fig. 5A). Transverse process of the fourth vertebra of Weberian complex forming an angle > 90° between anterior and lateral margins and < 90° between lateral and posterior margins, in ventral view (Fig. 4). Length of Weberian complex in relation to length of neurocranium 32.2–36.3%. Anterior fontanel elongated, not reaching transverse line through opening of infraorbital sensory canal in sphenotic. Posterior fontanel small and oval-shaped, located at center of parieto-supraoccipital (Fig. 5A). Parieto-supraoccipital process with bifurcated tip in contact with supraneural (Fig. 5A). Heart-shaped gas bladder (Fig. 6). Lateral line complete, reaching caudal-fin base. Number of total vertebrae 43–44. Ribs 13. Axillary pore present. Dorsal-fin origin at anterior third of body. Posterior margin of fin convex. Dorsal-fin spine strongly ossified with distal end pointed, shorter than next branched ray and with serrations on anterior margin. Dorsal-fin rays I, 6. Adipose-fin origin anterior to anal-fin origin. Pectoral-fin spine serrated, covered by skin; anterior margin with 18–41 serrations of similar size and posterior margin with 17–27 larger serrations. Posterior edge of pectoral fin convex. Axillary pore present. Pectoral-fin rays I, 7. Posterior margin of pelvic fin rounded; origin inserted behind posterior end of dorsal-fin base. Pelvic-fin rays i, 5. Anal fin with posterior edge rounded and inserted below 20th vertebra. Anal-fin rays iii, 7. Caudal fin bifurcated, with pointed lobes, upper lobe slightly narrower and longer than ventral lobe. Caudal-fin rays i, 8, 7, i; dorsal procurrent rays 14; ventral procurrent rays 14.

Color in life and alcohol. Background of body of variable color from yellow to light brown with four vertical dark bands (Fig. 7). First predorsal band partially conjoined with subdorsal band at level of upper corner of branchial margin. Subdorsal band connected dorsally with sub-adipose band, almost reaching anal-fin base. Dark band on caudal-fin base, completely fused or separated from sub-adipose band in dorsal region. In some specimens, bands less evident and faint. Region between bands with small, scattered and irregularly-shaped spots. Body covered by bright yellow mucus. Pectoral, ventral, and dorsal fins reddish with two transverse dark bands, at base and last-third of each fin. Adipose-fin of same color as body, occasionally covered by sub-adipose band in middle region. Caudal fin pale brown with or without narrow dark band along the center of caudal fin. Color in alcohol (Fig. 2) similar to live coloration, except regions lacking superficial mucus, becoming darker (grey to brown).

Distribution. Magdalena River, from upper sector at El Quimbo dam to the confluence with the Gualí River in Honda town. Cauca River throughout the entire basin (Fig. 8).

Etymology. The specific name magnus is from the Latin, meaning “great” and refers to the fact that is the largest species of Pseudopimelodus described so far (see Shibatta, 2003; Ortega-Lara & Lehmann, 2006).

Pseudopimelodus atricaudus, sp. nov. (Fig. 9)

Pseudopimelodus schultzi [not Dahl, 1955]. —Ortega-Lara & Lehmann, 2006: 155 [Magdalena Basin; comparative material]. —Mojica et al., 2006: 33 [middle Magdalena basin; check list]. —Villa-Navarro et al., 2006: 15 [upper Magdalena basin; check list].

Pseudopimelodus cf. bufonius [not Valenciennes, 1840): —Jiménez-Segura & Ortega-Lara, 2011: 545 [Magdalena River Basin; fisheries].

Holotype. CIUA 5141, 143.7 mm SL, Colombia, Sucre, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Guaranda, 8°19′04.6″N, 74°31′56.9″W, Feb 2018, Restrepo-Gómez A.M.

Paratypes. ANDES I211, 1, 185.3 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Barrio Chino, Caucasia, 8°00′35.2″N, 75°00′0″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. ANDES I212, 1, 203.5 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Paloma, Caucasia, 7°59′31.7″N, 74°58′35.6″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CIUA 5159, 1, 241.0 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Barrio Chino, Caucasia, 08°00′35.3″N, 75°0′00″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CIUA 5160, 1, 190.0 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in La Ilusión, Caucasia, 8°1′50″N, 75°0′0.9″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CIUA 5161, 1, 205.0 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Punta Cartagena, Pinillos, 8°53′37.3″N, 74°28′28.4″W, Feb 2014, Olaya G. CIUA 5162, 1, 250.0 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Venecia, 6°39′47.6″N, 75°50′9″W, Dec 2015, Olaya G. CP-UCO 3857, 3, 131.8 –198.9 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Barrio Chino, Caucasia, 8°0′35.3″N, 75°0′0″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CP-UCO 3858, 3, 153.8–192.6 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Punta Cartagena, Pinillos, 8°53′37.3″N, 74°28′28.4″W, Jan 2015, Olaya G. CP-UCO 3859, 1, 109.0 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Caribona River in Montecristo, 8°19′6.1″N, 74°31′7.9″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. CZUT-IC 1785, 2, 136–178 mm SL, Colombia, Tolima, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Honda, 5°14′05″N, 74°43′43″W, 15 Jan 2005. ICN-MHN 24387, 1, 147.9 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Punta Cartagena, Pinillos, 8°53′37.3″N, 74°28′28.4″W, Jan 2015, Olaya G. IMCN 0324, 2, 139.7–185.3 mm SL, Colombia, Santander, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Wilches, ca. 7°19′39″N, 73°54′41″W, 27 Jun 1996, Aldana J. IMCN 4196, 1 C&S, 6, 90.08–210.3 mm SL, Colombia, Bolivar, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Hatillo de la Loba, Oct 2006, Ardila C. IMCN 8232, 3, 153.8–180.4 mm SL, Colombia, Tolima, Magdalena River in Honda, ca. 5°14′05″N, 74°43′43″W, 12 Jan 2007, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8233, 6, 99.4–275.0 mm SL, Colombia, Córdoba, San Jorge River in La Balsa, Corregimiento La Apartada, ca. 8°01′40″N, 75°23′04″W, 20 Jan 2016, Vallecilla-Valencia V., Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8237, 7, 202–225 mm SL, Colombia, Santander, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Barrancabermeja, 7°01′56″N, 73°52′35″W, 26 Sep 2011, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8238, 1, 62.6 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Yanacue stream in the Yanacue town, 7°18′14″N, 74°01′16″W, 15 Aug 2010, Ortega-Lara A. IMCN 8266, 1 DS, 203.5 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Barrio Chino, Caucasia, 8°0′35.3″N, 75°0′0″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. IMCN 8268, 1 DS, 160 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in San Jacinto del Cauca, 8°12′7.5″N, 74°45′15.5″W, Dec 2015, Restrepo-Gómez A.M. IMCN 8271, 1, 198.6 mm SL, Colombia, Bolívar, Magdalena River Basin, Cauca River in Punta Cartagena, Pinillos, 8°53′37.4″N, 74°28′28.5″W, Apr 2015, Olaya G.

Non-type material

CIUA 366, 95 mm SL, Colombia, Cesar, Magdalena River Basin, Tucuy River in Becerril, 9°41′35″N, 73°27′42.1″W, May 2006, Montoya A.F. CIUA 367, 120 mm SL, Colombia, Cesar, Magdalena River Basin, Maracas River in Becerril, 9°44′46.2″N, 73°10′38″W, May 2006, Montoya A.F. CIUA 528 3, 210–245 mm SL, Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Cauca River Basin, in Río Frío, 4°07′52.4″N, 76°16′22.1″W, Jan 2007, Ochoa L., Ospina J.G. CIUA 840, 8 DS, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°30′27.8″N, 74°23′49.3″W, Aug 2006, Cano J.M. CIUA 841, 7 DS, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°30′27.8″N, 74°23′49.2″W, Aug 2006, Cano J.M. CIUA 1151, 4, 135–160 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°30′27.8″N, 74°23′49.3″W, Aug 2009, Jiménez L.F. CIUA 2029, 2, 81.2–82.1 mm SL, Colombia, Santander, Magdalena River Basin, Sogamoso River in Betulia, 7°05′14.2″N, 73°23′52″W, Jan 2011, Pelayo P. CIUA 2987, 195 mm SL, Colombia, Santander, Magdalena River Basin in El Llanito floodplain lake, 7°10′12.2″N, 73°51′43.8″W, Aug 2010, Carvajal J.D., Hernández A. CIUA 3240, 250, 200 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°30′27.8″N, 74°23′49.3″W, Jun 2013, Jiménez L.F. CIUA 3291, 2, 145–190 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°30′27.8″N, 74°23′49.2″W, Jun 2013, Jiménez L.F. CIUA 3668, 190 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°29′50″N, 74°23′53″W, Aug 2014, Jiménez L.F. CIUA 4797, 190 mm SL, Colombia, Antioquia, Magdalena River Basin, Magdalena River in Puerto Berrío, 6°29′50″N, 74°23′53″W, May 2015, Londoño J.

Diagnosis. Pseudopimelodus atricaudus (Fig. 9) differs from the other Pseudopimelodus species by having a dark band covering $\frac{3}{4}$ of the caudal fin with base of rays and tip of caudal-fin lobes hyaline (vs. narrow vertical dark band along the center of caudal fin in P. bufonius, P. magnus, and P. schultzi, although in some specimens is hardly visible; base of rays hyaline and broad band covering $\le \frac{1}{2}$ caudal fin in P. charus and P. mangurus), anterior margin of the dorsal-fin spine smooth (vs. serrated; Fig. 10). Pseudopimelodus atricaudus differs from other Pseudopimelodus species except P. mangurus by having a total of 39 vertebrae (vs. 38 in P. bufonius; 43–44 in P. magnus, Fig. 3; 41 in P. schultzi). It differs from P. magnus by having a shallowly concave lateral margin of the transverse process of the fourth vertebra of the Weberian complex (Fig. 4 vs. deeply acute notch). Junction of the posterior margin of the transverse process of the fourth vertebra at angle approaching 90°(vs. < 90°; Figs. 4 and 5). It differs from P. magnus, P. bufonius, and P. mangurus by having a longer Weberian complex in relation to the length of the neurocranium (46.9–55.5%, Fig. 5 vs. 32.1–36.3% in P. magnus, 33.5% in P. bufonius, and 42.7% in P. mangurus). It differs from P. bufonius and P. mangurus by having shorter maxillary barbels, not surpassing the opercular margin (vs. surpassing). It differs from other Pseudopimelodus species except P. magnus by the length of the posterior process of cleithrum (1.25–1.62 times the width of the pectoral-fin spine base vs. 0.57–0.75 in P. bufonius, 2.22–2.76 in P. schultzi, 2.24–2.30 in P. mangurus). It differs from other Pseudopimelodus species except P. magnus and P. schultzi by having a heart-shaped gas bladder (vs. dumbbell-shaped; Fig. 6).

Description. Morphometric data in Table 3. Body depressed from snout to dorsal-fin origin; progressively compressed towards caudal-fin base. Snout rounded in dorsal view. Head as long as wide and covered by thick skin hiding fontanel and cranial roof bones. Eye small, covered by skin and positioned latero-dorsally. Prognathous jaw. Teeth small and villiform. Premaxilla laterally projected backwards, surpassing lateral process of lateral ethmoid. Anterior nostril tubular, located lateroposteriorly to maxillary barbel base (Figs. 8 and 10). Distance from anterior nostril to eye greater than distance to posterior nostril. Maxillary barbel reaching opercular margin. Mental barbel inserted anterior to gular apex. Inner mental barbel surpassing gular apex. Outer mental barbel surpassing branchial opening. Gular fold V-shaped, with rounded apex (Fig. 8). Branchiostegal membrane free from isthmus. Posterior process of cleithrum triangular, 1.25–1.62 of width of pectoral-fin spine base.

Vomer T-shaped, with bifurcated posterior process (Fig. 4B) and in contact with parasphenoid, mesethmoid, and lateral ethmoid. Posterior region of mesethmoid wider than base of parieto-supraoccipital process. Lateral margin of transverse process of the fourth vertebra of Weberian complex smoothly-concave joining posteriorly to vertebral centra at right angle. Length of Weberian complex in relation to length of neurocranium 32.2–36.3%. Anterior fontanel elongated, reaching a transverse line through anterolateral process of lateral ethmoid (Fig. 5B). Posterior fontanel small and oval-shaped, located at center of parieto-supraoccipital (Fig. 5B). Parieto-supraoccipital process rectangular, slightly wider at base, with bifurcated tip in contact with supraneural (Fig. 5B). Heart-shaped gas bladder (Fig. 6). Lateral line complete, reaching caudal-fin base. Total number of vertebrae 39. Dorsal-fin origin at anterior third of body, posterior margin straight, dorsal-fin spine strongly ossified, of equal length to first branched ray. Anterior margin of dorsal-fin spine smooth with its distal end pointed. Dorsal-fin rays I, 6. Adipose-fin origin at level of anal fin origin. Pectoral-fin spine with serrations and covered by skin, anterior and posterior margins with 17–19 and 13–17 serrations, respectively. Serrations on posterior margin slightly larger than those on anterior margin. Posterior edge of pectoral fin straight. Axillary pore present. Pectoral-fin rays I, 7. Pelvic fin emarginated, inserted behind end of dorsal-fin base. Pelvic-fin rays i, 5. Anal fin with rounded posterior edge and inserted below 17th vertebra. Anal-fin rays v, 7. Caudal-fin bifurcated, with pointed lobes, upper lobe slightly narrower and longer than ventral lobe. Caudal-fin rays i, 8, 7, i; dorsal procurrent rays 17; ventral procurrent rays 17.

Color in life and alcohol. Body covered by yellowish mucus with four irregularly-shaped dark bands on pre-dorsal, subdorsal, sub-adipose region, and caudal-fin base, clearly visible in juveniles (Fig. 11), but faint in adult specimens. Pre-dorsal and subdorsal bands not joined. Remaining bands variably joined at different levels without defined pattern. Body with small dark and scattered spots and belly whitish. Dorsal and anal fins brown with posterior margin pale. Caudal-fin base hyaline, dark brown on its posterior three-quarters. Pectoral and pelvic fins reddish with dark band at base. Color in alcohol similar to color in life.

Distribution. It is found on the Magdalena River below 200 m asl from the confluence of the Guali River in the city of Honda and in the middle and lower basins of the Cauca River, close to the mouth (Fig. 8).

Etymology. The specific name atricaudus is from the Latin, “ater” (black) and “cauda” (tail) and refers to the diagnostic black caudal fin.