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aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology

Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish

(Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil

Matheus Vieira Volcan 1,2, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés1,3 and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves1

1) Instituto Pró-Pampa (IPPampa), Laboratório de Ictiologia. Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
E-mail: matheusvolcan@hotmail.com
2) Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Programa de Pós Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal.
Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
3) Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia:
Diversidade e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ecossistemas
Aquáticos, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

Received: 22 September 2014 – Accepted: 10 July 2014

Abstract adloffi por la altura inferior del cuerpo y cabeza (excepto en

Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish closely re-
lated to the A. adloffi species group, is described from spec-
imens collected from temporary ponds located in the mid-
dle course of the Rio Camaquã, Laguna dos Patos system at
the municipality of Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do
Sul, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from other
Austrolebias species by the unique male pigmentation pat-
tern of the dorsal fin, with black vertical bars elongated
from the base to the medial portion of the fin, and by the
pattern of transversal black bars on the body, which become
gradually shorter and fainter towards caudal peduncle. It is
also distinguished from all species of the A. adloffi species
group by the lower body depth and head (except in A. rei-
cherti), lower anal fin base length and caudal fin length in
males, and the lower head depth (except in A. reicherti) and
anal fin base length in females. In addition, A. bagual fe-
males do not have the pair of black spots arranged vertically
in close proximity on the posterior portion of caudal pe-
duncle typical of most species of the A. adloffi group.
Resumen
Austrolebias bagual, una nueva especie de pez anual es-
trechamente relacionada al grupo de especies A. adloffi se de-
scribe de charcos temporales ubicadas sobre el curso medio
de la cuenca del río Camaquã, sistema de la Laguna dos
Patos, municipio de Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do
Sul, Brasil. La nueva especie se distingue de todas las demás
especies de Austrolebias por el patrón de color único de los
machos que consiste en bandas negras verticales alargadas
desde la base hasta la parte media de la aleta dorsal y el pa-
trón de bandas transversales del flanco que tienden a ser más
corto y desaparecer en la parte posterior del cuerpo. Tam-
bién se distingue de todas las especies del grupo A.
A. reicherti), más corta longitud de la base de la aleta anal y
tamaño de la aleta caudal en los machos, y la altura de la
cabeza más baja (excepto en A. reicherti) y el tamaño de la
aleta anal en las hembras. Por otra parte, las hembras de A.
bagual no presentan un par de manchas negras dispuestas
verticalmente en la parte posterior del pedúnculo caudal,
típico de la mayoría de las especies del grupo A. adloffi.
Resumo
Austrolebias bagual, uma nova espécie de peixe anual estre-
itamente relacionada com o grupo de espécies A. adloffi é de-
scrita com base em indivíduos coletados de poças tem-
porárias localizadas na bacia do médio curso do Rio Cama-
quã, sistema da Laguna dos Patos, município de Encruzilha-
da do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A nova espécie dis-
tingue-se de todas as espécies de Austrolebias pelo padrão de
colorido único de machos que consiste de barras verticais pre-
tas alongadas da base à porção medial da nadadeira dorsal e
pelo padrão de barras transversais do corpo, que tendem a se
tornar gradualmente mais curtas e desaparecer na porção pos-
terior. Também se distingue de todas as espécies do grupo A.
adloffi pela menor altura do corpo e da cabeça (exceto em A.
reicherti), menor comprimento da base da nadadeira anal e
tamanho da nadadeira caudal em machos, e pela menor al-
tura da cabeça (exceto em A. reicherti) e tamanho da base da
nadadeira anal em fêmeas. Além disso, fêmeas de A. bagual
não apresentam um par de pontos negros dispostos vertical-
mente na porção posterior do pedúnculo caudal, típico da
maioria das espécies do grupo A. adloffi.
Zusammenfassung
Die neue Art Austrolebias bagual, die mit der A.-adloffi-
Artengruppe nahe verwandt ist, wird auf der Grundlage von

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Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil
Exemplaren beschrieben, die in zeitbegrenzten Tümpeln am
Mittellauf des Rio Camaquã, Laguna dos Patos, in der Kom-
mune Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, in Brasilien
gefunden wurden. Von anderen Austrolebias-Arten unter-
scheidet sich die neue Art durch das einzigartige Farbmuster
der Rückenflosse bei den Männchen, mit schwarzen
senkrechten Streifen, die sich vom Ansatz bis zum mittleren
Teil der Flosse erstrecken, sowie durch die schwarzen Quer-
streifen auf dem Rumpf, die zum Schwanzstiel hin immer
kürzer und schwächer werden. Unterscheidungsmerkmale zu
allen anderen Arten der A.-adloffi-Artengruppe sind außer-
dem die geringere Tiefe von Rumpf und Kopf (Ausnahme A.
reicherti), die geringere Länge der Afterflossenbasis und der
Schwanzflosse bei Männchen sowie die geringere Kopftiefe
(Ausnahme A. reicherti) und Afterflossenlänge bei Weibchen.
Hinzu kommt, dass bei den Weibchen von A. bagual das Paar
schwarzer, senkrecht angeordneter Flecken fehlt, die bei den
meisten Arten der A.-adloffi-Gruppe dicht beieinander auf
dem hinteren Teil des Schwanzstiels zu finden sind.
Résumé
Austrolebias bagual, une nouvelle espèce de poisson annuel
proche du groupe d’espèces d’A. adloffi, est décrit sur base de
spécimens collectés dans des mares temporaires situées sur le
cours moyen du Rio Camaquã, Lagua dos Patos, dans la mu-
nicipalité d’Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brésil.
La nouvelle espèce se distingue des autres espèces d’Aus-
trolebias par le patron de pigmentation unique de la dorsale
chez le mâle, avec des barres verticales noires de la base à la
portion médiane de la nageoire et par le patron de barres
transversales noires sur le corps, qui deviennent graduelle-
ment plus courtes et moins marquées vers le pédoncule cau-
dal. Elle se démarque également de toutes les autres espèces
du groupe d’A. adloffi par une hauteur de corps moindre et
de la tête (sauf pour A. reicherti), par une longueur moindre
de la base de l’anale et de la caudale pour les mâles et une
hauteur de tête moindre (sauf pour A. reicherti) ainsi que par
la base de l’anale des femelles. En outre, les femelles d’A.
bagual n’ont pas la paire de taches noires placées verticale-
ment l’une très près de l’autre sur la portion postérieure du
pédoncule caudal, ce qui est typique pour la plupart des es-
pèces du groupe d’A. adloffi.
Sommario
Austrolebias bagual, una nuova specie di pesci annuali stret-
tamente legato al gruppo di specie A. adloffi, è descritto da
campioni raccolti in stagni temporanei situati nel medio cor-
so del Rio Camaquã, Laguna dos Patos nel comune di En-
cruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasile. La nuova
specie si distingue dalle altre specie di Austrolebias per l’origi-
nale profilo di pigmentazione della pinna dorsale del mas-
chio, caratterizzato da barre verticali nere allungate dalla base
alla porzione mediale della pinna, e per la presenza di barre
nere trasversali sul corpo, che diventano gradualmente più
brevi e più indistinte verso il peduncolo caudale. Si distingue
anche da tutte le specie del gruppo A. adloffi per la minore al-
tezza del corpo e della testa (eccetto in A. reicherti), la minore
lunghezza della base della pinna anale nei maschi e nelle fem-
aqua vol. 20 no. 4 - 15 October 2014
mine e la minore lunghezza della pinna caudale nei maschi.
Inoltre, nelle femmine di A. bagual non è presente la coppia
di macchioline nere disposte verticalmente in prossimità del-
la porzione posteriore del peduncolo caudale tipica della
maggior parte delle specie del gruppo A. adloffi.
INTRODUCTION
The Neotropical genus Austrolebias comprises
about 40 small annual killifishes (Costa 2006;
Loureiro et al. 2011; García et al. 2014) distrib-
uted in southern Brazil, southern Bolivia,
Paraguay, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina
(Costa 2010). Species of this genus inhabit natural
temporary ponds in many river drainages in this re-
gion, including the Paraná-Paraguay-Uruguay river
system and the Patos-Mirim lagoon system (Costa
& Cheffe 2005). In the Pampas region, ponds are
usually formed during the winter months (June-Ju-
ly), whereas in the Chaco region they are mainly
formed during the summer months (December-
January) (Costa 2006).
The highest diversity of Austrolebias (23 species)
has been recorded in the Rio Grande do Sul State in
southern Brazil (Lanés et al. 2013; 2014; Volcan et
al. 2014). These species are severely threatened with
extinction because of their low dispersal ability and
the extensive loss and fragmentation of freshwater
wetlands and temporary ponds. Furthermore, their
peculiar lifecycle and restricted range contribute to
this threat (Reis et al. 2003; Rosa & Lima, 2008;
Volcan et al. 2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2014; ICMBio
2013; Lanés et al. 2013, 2014).
The genus has been phylogenetically redefined by
Costa (2006) to include the species previously re-
ferred to as Megalebias Costa. In Costa’s review,
three basal species and five species-groups were de-
fined, among them the groups Austrolebias adloffi
and A. bellottii. García et al. (2014) reinforce the
existence of these two groups, however, they differ
from that proposed by Costa (2006) by allocating
A. arachan Loureiro, Azpelicueta & García 2004
and A. viarius (Vaz-Ferreira, Sierra de Soriano &
Scaglia de Paulete, 1965) to the A. adloffi species
group, which were previously included in the A.
bellottii species group (Costa 2006).
The A. adloffi species group is distinguished from
remaining taxa in Austrolebias by unique color pat-
tern on posterior portion of caudal peduncle in ju-
veniles and adult females, and occasionally in adult
males, consisting of a pair of black spots arranged
vertically (except in A. arachan and A. viarius)
(Costa 2006). We herein describe a new species,
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Matheus Vieira Volcan, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves
which is closely related to the A. adloffi species
group. Additionally, we provide summarized infor-
mation on the population parameters, habitat
characteristics and conservation status of this new,
rare and threatened Rivulidae species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Morphological characters were obtained from
specimens fixed in formalin after collection, and
subsequently transferred to 70% ethanol. Fish
measurements were taken point-to-point with dig-
ital calipers to the nearest 0.1 mm on the left side
of the specimen following Costa (1995, 2006).
Measurements are expressed as percents of stan-
dard length (SL), except the head measurements,
which are recorded as percents of head length. Fin-
ray counts include all elements. Numbers of verte-
brae were recorded only from cleared and stained
specimens (C&S) according to the method de-
scribed in Taylor & Van Dyke (1985). Frontal
squamation nomenclature follows that described
by Hoedeman (1958), and the cephalic neuromast
series are described according to Costa (2006).
Descriptions of color patterns were based both on
direct examination of live specimens in the field
just after collection and on live specimens pho-
tographed in the field, fixed in situ after photos,
and one couple maintained in aquaria (not pre-
served). Institutional abbreviations are MCP
(Museu de Ciência e Tecnologia da Pontifícia Uni-
versidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto
Alegre). Species groups names follow those de-
scribed by Costa (2006) and Gárcia et al. (2014).
Conservation status assessment was based on field
surveys. To establish the vulnerability category, the
IUCN criteria were applied (IUCN 2014) using cri-
terion B2 (Geographic range in the form of either
B2 - area of occupancy). Currently, this approach is
applied in the evaluation of the red lists of threat-
ened fauna in Brazil (ICMBio 2013) and Rio
Grande do Sul state (FZB 2014). The area of occu-
pancy (AOO) was estimated using satellite images
available in Google Earth (earth.google.com).
Austrolebias bagual n. sp.
(Figs 1-3)
Holotype: MCP 48240, male, 39.3 mm SL, Brazil,
Rio Grande do Sul State, Encruzilhada do Sul mu-
nicipality, Laguna dos Patos system, Rio Camaquã
basin, temporary pond in the floodplains of Arroio
163
Abranjo, close to BR-471 highway (30°51’12” S,
52°34’16” W), Aug. 2012, M. V. Volcan, L. E. K.
Lanés & G. M. Wallwitz.
Paratypes: All from Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, En-
cruzilhada do Sul: MCP 48241, 5 males (1 C&S),
25-32.1 mm SL, 5 females (1 C&S), 22.5-38.3
mm SL, collected with the holotype.
Diagnosis: Austrolebias bagual can be uniquely di-
agnosed from all other species of Austrolebias by the
unique colour pattern on the body and dorsal fin
in males. This usually consists of an overall light
brown to dark brown coloration with 3-6 dark
grey, narrow vertical bars, bars becoming gradually
shorter and fainter towards caudal peduncle (vs.
never similar colour patterns), and dorsal fin light
bluish-green, with 5-7 black vertical bars extending
from the base to the medial portion of the fin (vs.
absence of a such pattern in the remaining Aus-
trolebias). In addition, A. bagual females lack the
pair of black spots arranged vertically in close prox-
imity on the posterior portion of the caudal pedun-
cle, sometimes coalescing to form an 8-shaped
blotch, which is typical of most of the A. adloffi
species group (except A. arachan and A. viarius).
For additional morphometric and meristic charac-
ters distinguishing Austrolebias bagual from con-
geners, see the Discussion, below.
Description: Morphometric and meristic data are
presented in Table I. Males are larger than females;
largest male examined 39.3 mm SL, largest female
38.3 mm SL. Dorsal profile slightly convex from
snout to end of dorsal-fin base, straight on caudal
peduncle. Ventral profile gently arched from lower
jaw to origin of anal fin base, nearly straight on
caudal peduncle. Greatest body depth between
pelvic-fin base and urogenital papilla. Body deep
and compressed. Eye positioned on lateral portion
of head. Snout blunt and jaws short.
Dorsal-fin rays in males 19-23; in females 15-19.
Dorsal and posterior tip of dorsal fin of males
rounded. Origin of dorsal fin at vertical through
neural spines of 8th and 9th vertebrae in males, in
females through neural spines of 11th and 12th ver-
tebrae. Anal-fin rays in males 21-25; in females 17-
21. Anal-fin tip rounded in males. Anal and dorsal
fins with short filaments extend along the distal
border in males. Anteromedian rays of anal fin of
females elongated, anal fin shape nearly triangular.
Anal-fin origin at vertical through 3rd and 5th dor-
sal-fin rays in males and through the 2nd and 3rd in
females. Origin of anal fin at vertical through
pleural ribs of 9th and 10th vertebrae in males, in
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Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil

Figs 1A-B. A. Holotype (MCP 48240). B. Live female paratype (MCP 48241) of Austrolebias bagual sampled from a tem-
porary pond of the Arroio Abranjo floodplain. Photos by M. V. Volcan

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Matheus Vieira Volcan, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves

Table I. Morphometric data for the holotype and paratypes of Austrolebias bagual.

Male (n=5) Female (n=5)

Morphometric data Holotype min max –
χ DP min max –
χ DP

Standart length 39.3 25.3 32.1 29.9 2.7 22.5 38.3 30.1 5.8
Percentages of standart length
Body depth 33.8 23.4 31.3 27.7 3.2 18.3 35.4 26.7 6.8
Caudal peduncle depth 14.8 9.7 12.7 11.2 1.3 7.9 13.0 10.5 2.2
Predorsal length 52.7 36.4 46.8 42.9 4.0 34.4 61.6 47.4 10.2
Prepelvic length 48.9 32.1 38.9 36.0 2.9 28.5 52.4 39.7 9.0
Dorsal-fin base length 37.9 22.1 31.0 28.5 3.7 15.5 27.0 20.7 4.3
Anal-fin base length 36.4 22.1 30.0 27.0 3.1 12.5 20.1 17.3 2.9
Caudal-fin length 19.6 16.5 20.9 18.5 1.7 17.3 23.2 19.2 2.4
Pectoral-fin length 22.9 15.5 23.7 19.8 3.0 13.5 27.7 18.6 5.6
Pelvic-fin length 7.9 4.6 12.0 7.4 2.8 5.3 12.7 8.4 3.0
Head length 30.5 22.1 27.7 25.9 2.6 19.6 29.0 25.3 4.2
Percentages of head length
Head depth 98.3 85.3 95.4 89.7 4.9 83.1 93.9 86.4 4.3
Head width 64.2 55.2 64.2 61.2 4.2 59.7 68.4 62.9 4.0
Snout length 15.0 11.1 14.7 12.8 1.5 11.5 14.3 13.3 1.3
Lower jaw length 22.5 18.5 28.7 23.8 4.2 21.1 23.4 22.1 1.1
Eye diameter 24.2 18.3 28.4 24.0 3.6 21.8 27.2 24.2 2.0

females through pleural ribs of 11th-12th vertebrae.
Caudal fin distal margin rounded, with 22-24 rays
in males and 22-26 fin rays in females. Caudal-fin
rays supported by last four vertebrae. Pectoral-fin
rays 11-13 in males, 12-13 in females; Pectoral-fins
elliptical. Pectoral-fin posterior tip reaching from
the origin of the pelvic fin to the 4th anal-fin ray in
males, from the origin of the pelvic fin to the uro-
genital papilla in females. Five pelvic-fin rays.
Pelvic-fin posterior tip from 2nd to 3rd anal-fin ray
in males, from 1st to 2nd anal fin ray in females.
Pelvic fins joined to each other, with medial pelvic-
fin membranes coalesced at different degrees. Uro-
genital papilla not attached to anal fin.
Scales cycloid. Body and head entirely scaled, ex-
cept anterior ventral surface of the head. One row
of scales on anal-fin base. Three rows of scales on
caudal-fin base. Frontal squamation F and G pat-
terned; scales arranged in transverse pattern, all
scales with exposed posterior margin. Longitudinal
series of scales 29-32; transverse series of scales 12-
15; scale rows around caudal peduncle 13-15.
Minute contact organs throughout body, more
conspicuous on ventral region of males. Row of
minute contact organs in the two uppermost pec-
toral-fin rays and on distal portion of anteriormost
anal-fin rays. No contact organ on pelvic, dorsal
and caudal fins.
Cephalic neuromasts: supraorbital 16-19, parietal
3-4, anterior rostral 1, posterior rostral 1, infraor-
bital 18-22, preorbital 1-2, otic 1-6, postotic 2-3,
supratemporal 1, median opercular 1, ventral oper-
cular 2, preopercular 18-23, mandibular 10-14,
lateral mandibular 3-5.
Six branchiostegal rays. Dermosphenotic ossifica-
tion absent. Urohyal deep. Total number of verte-
brae 28-29, 10-11 precaudal.
C o l o r i n l i f e (Figs 1 and 2): Males: Light
brown to dark brown body side with generally 3-6
dark grey vertical bars that become gradually short-
er and fainter towards caudal peduncle. Typically,
first 2-3 bars more conspicuous. Sometimes, the
anterior region of the body pale golden. Vertical
bars three to five times narrower than the inter-
space width. Number of vertical bars can be un-
equal between sides of body. Abdominal region
pale golden. Infraorbital bar black, wider near the
eye. Supraorbital bar black, with distinctive narrow
extension over the neuromast parietal series. Iris or-
ange, with a dark bar though centre of the eye. Op-
ercular region bright bluish-green. Dorsal fin
bluish-green with 5-7 black vertical bars extending
from the base to the medial portion of the fin, in-
terspersed with subtle, yellowish-white bars. Cau-
dal, anal and pelvic fins light bluish-green. No
spots, dots or bars in caudal, pelvic and anal fins.
Narrow black stripe on margin of anal fin, incon-
spicuous in some specimens. Pectoral fins hyaline,

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Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil
with narrow black ventral margin extending from
the fin base to the tip of the sixth or seventh ven-
tralmost rays.
Females: Overall color pattern light yellowish-
brown, with scattered dark grey or dark brown
spots. Venter pale golden. Opercular region pale
yellowish or pale greenish-blue. Unpaired fins hya-
line with light brown and spots bars on the basal
portion of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Pectoral
and pelvic fins hyaline. Iris orange, with dark bar
through centre of eye. Supra and suborbital bars
dark grey and inconspicuous.
Distribution: Austrolebias bagual is known only for
A ronment (the pond dries up completely during
B drier periods, the ponds dry out.
C lows: pH: 5.17; dissolved oxygen: 5.49 mg/L-1;
Figs 2A-C. Color variation of live males of Austrolebias
bagual, Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
A. Holotype (MCP 48240), B. Paratype (MCP 48241),
C. Specimen kept in aquaria, not preserved. Photos by M.
V. Volcan
aqua vol. 20 no. 4 - 15 October 2014
type locality, in the Encruzilhada do Sul municipali-
ty, from a small temporary pond (Fig. 4) at an alti-
tude of 46 m, associated with the floodplain of the
Arroio Abranjo, in the middle course of the Rio Ca-
maquã basin, Laguna dos Patos system, in flat areas
surrounded by hills in geomorphological units of the
Crystalline Shield of the Rio Grande do Sul State.
Etymology: The term bagual refers to an expres-
sion used by the Brazilian gaúcho (people living in
Rio Grande do Sul State) which means a horse that
has not been castrated. However, for gaúcho’s cul-
ture, it is also an adjective used as a synonym for
being brave, courageous, fearless and audacious, as
is the case here. Because these annual fish have
unique adaptations for living in an extreme envi-
some months of the year) and have been discovered
in a remote and isolated area, we consider the new
species ‘bagual’. A name in apposition.
Habitat notes: The locality of occurrence of A.
bagual is situated in the Pampa region, which has
an irregular rainy season between May and No-
vember, with annual precipitation reaching about
1,600 mm per year (Nobre et al. 1986). During
The population of A. bagual is essentially restrict-
ed to open field habitat (grassland areas), in a small
(area less than 1 ha), shallow environment that is
exposed to direct light and dense aquatic vegeta-
tion in the floodplain of the Arroio Abranjo (Fig.
5). Pond vegetation is composed of emergent and
submerged species of macrophytes. The pond has
brownish-transparent water 15 cm deep, and a
mud substrate. Water sample parameters are as fol-
conductivity: 17 µS/cm; total dissolved solids: 9
ppm; and a reduced area of occupancy (AOO) of
about 1,000 m².
In the sampled pond, A. bagual co-occurs with
another two non-annual fish: Corydoras paleatus
(Jenyns, 1842) and Cheirodon interruptus (Jenyns,
1842).
Population parameters and conservation status:
The species shows low population density. In the
pond with the occurrence of A. bagual, the CPUA
was found to be 0.18 fishes per m². Samples taken
in November 2013 and June 2014 did not succeed
in recording new specimens, although the environ-
ment was still flooded and the conditions were ap-
propriate for their occurrence. Males tend to occur
at higher density than females, with a sex ratio of
1.2:1 (M:F).
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Matheus Vieira Volcan, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves

The type locality of A. bagual is an ‘island’ in the
middle of a fully modified area that is on the verge
of being destroyed, even more so considering the
agricultural focus of the region. The sampled pond
was under the indirect influence of plantations of
rice, wheat and soy. However, the region of occur-
rence of the species is dominated mainly by large
plantations of rice, especially in the low areas of the
floodplain of the Rio Camaquã.
Beyond these impacts, the impoundment of rivers
is an activity that also deserves attention for its pos-
sible influence on A. bagual populations, since
there are hydroelectric projects planned for the
basin. In accordance with the IUCN criteria, A.
bagual is considered a ‘Critically Endangered’
species, as it is included in the criteria CR B2ab (ii,
iii). The species presents reduced AOO (less than 1
km²), the populations are severely fragmented (a)
and a continued decline (b) in AOO (ii) and qual-
ity of habitat (iii).
DISCUSSION
The new species presents all of the synapomor-
phies of the genus Austrolebias and is related to the
A. adloffi species group through the possession of a
long and triangular anal fin in females, two to four
parietal neuromasts and the presence of a black
ventral margin in the pectoral fins of males (except

Fig. 3A-B. A. Holotype (MCP 48240). B. Female paratype (MCP 48241) of Austrolebias bagual, after preservation, Encruzil-
hada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Photo by M. V. Volcan.

167 aqua vol. 20 no. 4 - 15 October 2014

AQUA20(4)-LAYOUT.qxp_AQUA 16/10/14 09:51 Pagina 168

Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil

Fig. 4. Occurrence of Austrolebias bagual, showing the type locality (asterisk) in the Arroio Abranjo floodplain, Rio Camaquã
basin, Laguna dos Patos system, southern Brazil.

aqua vol. 20 no. 4 - 15 October 2014 168

AQUA20(4)-LAYOUT.qxp_AQUA 16/10/14 09:51 Pagina 169
Matheus Vieira Volcan, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves
in A. viarius) (see Costa 2006). However, the
colour pattern of the body and dorsal fin of males
easily distinguish A. bagual from any congener.
Moreover, the females of A. bagual do not present
the pair of black spots arranged vertically in close
proximity on the posterior portion of the caudal
peduncle, sometimes coalescing to form an 8-
shaped blotch, which is typical of most of the A.
adloffi species group (Costa 2006).
In addition to the diagnostic characters presented
in the Diagnosis, A. bagual males differ from those
of A. adloffi (Ahl, 1922) by the lower body depth
(23.4-33.8% SL vs. 40.4-44.2% SL) and head
(85.2-98.3% HL vs. 106.5-127% HL), lower anal
fin base length (22.1-36.4 SL vs. 44.3-49.5% SL),
lower caudal fin length (16.5-20.9% SL vs. 30.3-
36.8% SL) and smaller number of scales around
caudal peduncle in males (13-15 vs. 16), lower pec-
toral fin length (15.5-23.7% SL vs. 26.4-30.6%
SL), lower eye diameter (18.3-28.4% HL vs. 28.5-
34.0% HL), smaller number of horizontal scales
around the caudal peduncle (13-15 vs. 16), lower
preopercular neuromasts (19-23 vs. 31-38) and tip
of the pectoral fin reaching the 3rd to 4th anal-fin
ray (vs. 5th to 8th). Females of A. bagual differ from
females of A. adloffi by presenting higher lower jaw
lengths (21.1-23.4% HL vs. 17.8-19.0% HL),
lower head depth (83.1-93.9% HL vs. 101.4-
118% HL) and anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1%
SL vs. 30.6-33.5% HL), higher number of scales in
longitudinal series (29-32 vs. 26-28), lower eye di-
ameter (21.8-27.2% HL vs. 30.3-25.5% HL),
smaller number of horizontal scales around the
caudal peduncle (14-15 vs. 16) and lower preoper-
cular neuromasts (18-20 vs. 31-38).
Males of A. bagual differ from males of A. nigro-
fasciatus Costa & Cheffe, 2001 by the lower body
depth (23.4-33.8% SL vs. 38.7-44.2) and head
(85.2-98.3 % HL vs. 110.6-121% HL), lower anal-
fin base length (22.1-36.4% SL vs. 40.6-47.2%
SL), lower caudal-fin length (16.5-20.9% SL vs.
30-36% SL) and smaller number of scales around
caudal peduncle in males (13-15 vs. 16), smaller
eye diameter (18.3-28.4% HL vs. 29.0-34.9%
HL), higher number of scales in longitudinal series
(29-32 vs. 26-28) and in the transversal series (13-
15 vs. 11-12), and the tip of the pectoral fin reach-
ing the 3rd to 4th anal-fin ray (vs. 5th to 6th). Fe-
males of A. bagual differ from females of A. nigro-
fasciatus by a smaller pre pelvic length (28.5-52.4%
SL vs. 52.9-56.5% SL), lower eye diameter (21.8-
27.2% HL vs. 29.1-33.4% HL), higher lower jaw
169
length (21.1-23.4% HL vs. 19.0-20.2% HL), low-
er head depth (83.1-93.9% HL vs. 101-112%
HL), lower anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1% SL
vs. 25.5-35.7% SL), higher number of scales in
longitudinal series (29-32 vs. 26-28) and smaller
number of horizontal scales around the caudal pe-
duncle (14-15 vs. 16).
Males of A. bagual differ from males of A. nachti-
galli Costa & Cheffe, 2006 by the lower body depth
(23.4-33.8% SL vs. 37.4-42.6% SL) and head
(85.2-98.3 % HL vs. 113.7-132% HL), lower anal-
fin base length (22.1-36.4% SL vs. 40.5-49.6%
SL), lower caudal-fin length (16.5-20.9% SL
vs.26.9-31.5% SL) and smaller number of scales
around caudal peduncle in males (13-15 vs. 16),
smaller dorsal-fin base length (22.1-37.9% SL vs.
38.0-42.3% SL), lower head width (55.2-64.2%
HL vs. 66.6-71.4% HL) and higher number of
scales in longitudinal series (29-32 vs. 26-28). Fe-
males differ by lower body depth (18.3-35.4% SL
vs. 37.0-42.6% SL), lower caudal peduncle depth
(7.9-13.0% SL vs. 13.3-15.5% SL), lower eye di-
ameter (21.8-27.2% HL vs. 30.4-34.6% HL), low-
er head depth (83.1-93.9% HL vs. 107.7-115%
HL), lower anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1% SL vs.
14.9-32.2% SL), smaller number of horizontal
scales around the caudal peduncle (14-15 vs. 16),
higher lower jaw length (21.1-23.4% HL vs. 15.8-
20.2% HL) and higher number of scales in longitu-
dinal series (29-32 vs. 26-28).
Males of A. bagual differ from A. charrua Costa &
Cheffe, 2001 males by the lower body depth (23.4-
33.8% SL vs. 39.1-45.1% SL) and head (85.2-
98.3% HL vs. 113.6-138% HL), lower anal-fin
base length (22.1-36.4% SL vs. 43.7-48.5% SL),
lower caudal-fin length (16.5-20.9% SL vs. 29.3-
39.6% SL) and smaller number of scales around
caudal peduncle in males (13-15 vs. 16), lower pec-
toral-fin length (15.5-23.7% SL vs. 23.9-32.6%
SL), tip of pectoral fin reaching the 3rd to 4th anal-
fin ray (vs. 5th to 8th) and lower preopercular neu-
romasts (19-23 vs. 29-40). Females differ by lower
body depth (18.3-35.4% SL vs. 35.5-41.8% SL),
lower head depth (83.1-93.9% HL vs. 97.7-
121.5% HL) and anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1%
SL vs. 27.2-32.1% SL), lower dorsal-fin base
length (15.5-27.0% SL vs. 28.0-36.9% SL), lower
eye diameter (21.8-27.2% HL vs. 28.9-33.3%
HL), lower number of caudal-fin rays (17-21 vs.
23-26), smaller number of horizontal scales around
the peduncle (14-15 vs. 16) and lower preopercular
neuromasts (18-20 vs. 29-40).
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Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil
Males of A. bagual differ from A. minuano Costa
& Cheffe, 2001 males by the lower body depth
(23.4-33.8% SL vs. 39.5-51.2% SL), lower head
depth (85.2-98.3% HL vs. 112.3-138% HL), low-
er anal-fin base length (22.1-36.4 SL vs. 44.9-
53.6% SL), lower caudal-fin length (16.5-20.9%
SL vs. 28.5-35.5% SL) and smaller number of
scales around caudal peduncle in males (13-15 vs.
16-18), lower dorsal-fin base length (22.1-37.9%
SL vs. 40.5-48.3% SL), higher number of scales in
longitudinal series (29-32 vs. 26-28) and lower
preopercular neuromasts (19-23 vs. 30-37). Fe-
males of A. bagual differ from females of A. minu-
ano by lower eye diameter (21.8-27.2% HL vs.
29.1-35.1% HL), lower head depth (83.1-93.9%
HL vs. 106.1-124% HL) and anal-fin base length
(12.5-20.1% SL vs. 28.2-32.1% SL), lower num-
ber of caudal-fin rays (17-21 vs. 23-26), higher
number of scales in longitudinal series (29-32 vs.
26-28), smaller number of horizontal scales around
the caudal peduncle (14-15 vs. 16-18) and lower
preopercular neuromasts (18-20 vs. 30-37).
Austrolebias bagual differs from males of A. rei-
Fig. 5. Temporary pond located in the Arroio Abranjo floodplain, Rio Camaquã Basin, close to the BR-471 highway, type
locality of Austrolebias bagual. Photo by G. M. Wallwitz.
aqua vol. 20 no. 4 - 15 October 2014
cherti (Loureiro & García, 2004) by the lower anal-
fin base length (22.1-36.4% SL vs. 37.5-44% SL),
lower caudal-fin length (16.5-20.9% SL vs. 28.5-
35.5), lower preopercular neuromasts (19-23 vs.
30-37). Females differ by the lower preopercular
neuromasts (18-20 vs. 30-37), lower body depth
(18.3-35.4% SL vs. 29.5-36.1% SL) and lower
anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1% SL vs. 22.3-
30.1% SL).
Males of A. bagual differ from A. viarius by the
lower body depth (23.4-33.8% SL vs. 38.8-44.2%
SL) and head (85.2-98.3% HL vs. 115.7-12%
HL), lower anal-fin base length (22.1-36.4% SL
vs. 40.7-46.1% SL), lower caudal-fin length (16.5-
20.9% SL vs. 26.7-32.6% SL) and smaller number
of scales around caudal peduncle in males (13-15
vs. 20), lower dorsal-fin base length (22.1-37.9%
SL vs. 40.0-44.7 % SL), lower head width (55.2-
64.2% HL vs. 65.6-71.1% HL) and lower preop-
ercular neuromasts (19-23 vs. 39-40). Females dif-
fer by lower body depth (18.3-35.4% SL vs. 34.7-
41.5% SL), lower head depth (83.1-93.9% HL vs.
98.2-115.7% HL) and anal-fin base length (12.5-
170
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Matheus Vieira Volcan, Luis Esteban Krause Lanés and Ândrio Cardozo Gonçalves
20.1% SL vs. 23-25.1% SL), lower head width
(59.7-68.4% HL vs. 69.0-77.8% HL), lower num-
ber of caudal-fin rays (17-21 vs. 22-25), smaller
number of horizontal scales around the caudal pe-
duncle (14-15 vs. 20) and lower preopercular neu-
romasts (18-20 vs. 39-40).
Males of A. bagual differ from A. arachan males
by the lower body depth (23.4-33.8% SL vs. 25.8-
39.2% SL) and head (85.2-98.3 % HL vs. 104.4-
114.8% HL), lower anal-fin base length (22.1-
36.4 SL vs. 42.3-45.9% SL), lower caudal-fin
length (16.5-20.9% SL vs. 27.9-32.9% SL) and
smaller number of scales around caudal peduncle
in males (13-15 vs. 18-20), lower dorsal-fin base
length (22.1-37.9% SL vs. 41.3-46.4% SL), lower
head width (55.2-64.2% HL vs. 66.8-71.3% HL)
and lower preopercular neuromasts (19-23 vs. 25-
31). Females differ by lower snout length (11.5-
14.3% HL vs. 14.9-17.6% HL), lower head depth
(83.1-93.9% HL vs. 97.9-114.4% HL), lower
anal-fin base length (12.5-20.1% SL vs. 24.9-
28.7% SL), lower number of caudal-fin rays (17-
21 vs. 22-25), smaller number of horizontal scales
around the caudal peduncle (14-15 vs. 18-20) and
lower preopercular neuromasts (18-20 vs. 25-31).
Despite having a large catchment area and one of
the largest basins in the southern Rio Grande do
Sul, few efforts for ichthyological inventory have
been carried out in the Rio Camaquã basin, and
thus far, no Austrolebias species have been officially
recorded. The occurrence of A. bagual constitutes
the first record of the genus in this basin. The area
of occurrence of the species is located in the geo-
morphological unit of the Crystalline Shield of Rio
Grande do Sul in the lowland of the floodplain of
themiddle course of Rio Camaquã. This area is a
flat depression surrounded by rugged relief at rela-
tively high areas (higher than 450 m above sea lev-
el), which favours the further isolation and micro-
endemism of A. bagual and suggests a long past iso-
lation of this area.
Annual fish are the group of vertebrates most en-
dangered in Rio Grande do Sul, comprising about
70% of all threatened freshwater fish species (FZB,
2014). The main threats are related to the loss and
fragmentation of habitat, which is caused by vari-
ous activities that vary in degree and type of impact
by region in the state. Generally, however, these
threats arise from agriculture, particularly rice cul-
tivation, and urbanization (Volcan et al. 2009,
2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2014; Lanés et al. 2013,
2014). The restricted distribution area of A.
171
bagual, its low population density and the visible
changes in its biotope put the species in an endan-
gered situation and highlight the need for dedicat-
ed conservation efforts. In accordance with IUCN
criteria, A. bagual is considered a ‘Critically Endan-
gered’ species, being included in the criteria CR
B2ab (ii, iii). In this sense, the creation of a conser-
vation unit in the middle course of the Rio Ca-
maquã, encompassing the floodplains of the Arroio
Abranjo in the municipality of Encruzilhada do
Sul, could ensure the conservation of the species.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Gustavo M. Wallwitz for helping in
the collecting of fishes and Michel Corrêa for pro-
viding the map of the study area. Thanks to Ricar-
do Robaldo for providing lab support. We are
grateful to Pablo Lehmann and all staff of the Lab-
oratório de Ictiologia of Universidade do Vale do
Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), especially Lucas
Schvmambach for clearing and staining specimens
used in this study. M. V. Volcan thanks CAPES for
the Ph. D. Grant. We are grateful to Dalton
Nielsen, Stefano Valdesalici and Flávio Lima, for
their comments and suggestions which improved
the manuscript. This study was funded by Fun-
dação Grupo Boticário de Proteção à Natureza as
part of the project “Peixes Anuais do Pampa”. We
thank ICMBio by issuing a collecting license (#
18334-2).
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