Microlepidogaster arachas Martins, Calegari & Langeani, 2013

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypoptopomatinae
Max. size:  4.34 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: tributaries to rio Araguari, rio Perdizes, and rio Dourados, all pertaining to the rio Paranaíba drainage, upper rio Paraná basin in Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal soft rays: 6-7; Vertebrae: 31-31. Distinguished from all congeners, except Microlepidogaster perforatus, by having the anterior portion of compound supraneural plus first dorsal-fin proximal radial contacting the neural spine of ninth vertebra . Differs from Microlepidogaster perforatus by possessing18-29 dentary teeth (vs. 11-15), median series of lateral plates complete, reaching caudal peduncle end, and continuous lateral line (vs. median series of lateral plates terminating two plates before the end of the caudal peduncle, with non-perforated and missing plates in the middle of the series), and 20-24 mid-dorsal plates (vs. 9-13). Can be further separated from Microlepidogaster perforatus and Microlepidogaster dimorpha by having anterior portion of rostral plates with small pointed odontodes (vs. small rounded leaf-shaped odontodes), pectoral axillary slit present only in juveniles, absent in adults specimens (vs. pectoral axillary slit persistent, present in both juveniles and adults), and 21-24 mid-ventral plates (vs. 19-20 plates in Microlepidogaster perforatus, and 17-20 plates in Microlepidogaster dimorpha). Can be diagnosed from Microlepidogaster perforatus and Microlepidogaster longicolla by presenting mid-dorsal series of lateral plates surpassing the vertical through dorsal-fin length (vs. mid-dorsal plate series reduced, reaching the vertical through dorsal-fin base, however never surpassing the dorsal-fin length); and first rib attached to seventh vertebra (vs. first rib attached to 10th or 11th vertebra) (Ref. 92936). Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii,6-7; anal-fin rays i,5-6; pectoral-fin rays i,5-6; pelvic-fin rays i,5 (Ref. 92936).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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