Austrolebias wichi Alonso, Teran, Calviño, Garcia, Cardoso & Garcia, 2018

Family:  Rivulidae (Rivulines), subfamily: Cynolebiinae
Max. size:  5.16 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Argentina (Bermejo river drainage, Parana river basin)
Diagnosis:  This species can be distinguished from its congener A. patriciae by having a convex dorsal profile of head (vs. concave); absence of filamentous rays noticeably overpassing the interradial membrane distal margin of dorsal and anal fin in adult males (vs. present); presence of small numerous whitish dots on unpaired fins in males (vs. fewer and bigger); infraorbital and supraorbital bands thinner than pupil and pointed distal portion (vs. equal or wider than pupil and rounded distal portion); dorsal-fin origin posterior to anal fin origin in females (vs. anterior). Colour pattern in females similar to A. patriciae, with grey pinkish background having irregular grey blotches and some dark blue blotches over the caudal peduncle and body flank. It differs from A. varzeae by having a supraorbital band equal or longer than the infraorbital band (vs. always shorter than infraorbital bar) and color pattern having an orange background with small black and grey relatively rounded, irregular blotches. It differs from A. araucarianus, which presents a yellowish brown pale flank, with vertically elongated dark grey to black spots, often forming short narrow bars (Ref. 128060).
Biology:  Known only from its type locality, a seasonal paleochannel from the Bermejo River basin (Parana River basin). The habitat is highly impacted by human activities since it is surrounded by mostly soybean plantations. Also, presence of domestic cattle in this area is evident which alters the pond bottom structure (Ref. 128060).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 17 December 2020 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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