Integrative taxonomy reveals two new species of whiptail catfishes
                    Loricaria
                    (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from northeastern Brazil

Ananda. C. Serejo‐Saraiva; Nivaldo M. Piorski; Felipe P. Ottoni; Mark H. Sabaj; Sergio M. Q. Lima

doi:10.1111/jfb.70395

journal article Open Access Apr 08, 2026

Integrative taxonomy reveals two new species of whiptail catfishes Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from northeastern Brazil

Ananda. C. Serejo‐Saraiva

Nivaldo M. Piorski Felipe P. Ottoni Mark H. Sabaj Sergio M. Q. Lima

Journal of Fish Biology · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/jfb.70395

Abstract

Abstract

Two new species of whiptail catfish,
Loricaria
(Siluriformes: Loricariidae), were discovered in the Munim and Itapecuru river basins, Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil, through an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphology and mitochondrial DNA. Linear discriminant analysis revealed three morphometrically distinct groups, and
coxI
‐based phylogeny identified four genetically divergent lineages of
Loricaria
in northeastern Brazil. The new species are clearly distinguished from their closest congeners,
L. turi
and
L. parnahybae
, by unique diagnostic traits, including abdominal plate patterns, pectoral girdle coverage and the shape of the postorbital notch. Genetic divergences among lineages, estimated as mean interspecific K2P distance, ranged from 2.2% to 4.1%, similar thresholds commonly applied for species delimitation in Loricariidae. Both species exhibit restricted distributions and are endemic to river basins under increasing anthropogenic pressure. These results underscore the underestimated diversity of
Loricaria
in northeastern Brazil and reinforce the role of coastal drainages as areas of endemism and speciation.

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Published: Apr 08, 2026
License: View

Authors

A

Ananda. C. Serejo‐Saraiva

Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Sistemática e Evolução, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Natal Brazil

N

Nivaldo M. Piorski

Laboratório de Ecologia e Sistemática de Peixes, Departamento de Biologia Universidade Federal do Maranhão São Luís Maranhão Brazil

F

Felipe P. Ottoni

Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia de Organismos Aquáticos, Campus Chapadinha Universidade Federal do Maranhão Chapadinha Maranhão Brazil; NRF‐South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF‐SAIAB) Makhanda South Africa

M

Mark H. Sabaj

Department of Ichthyology The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

S

Sergio M. Q. Lima

Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática e Evolutiva, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova Natal Brazil

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Award: 88881.980664/2024‐01

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico Award: 307974/2021‐9

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão Award: BD02692/21

Cite This Article

Ananda. C. Serejo‐Saraiva, Nivaldo M. Piorski, Felipe P. Ottoni, et al. (2026). Integrative taxonomy reveals two new species of whiptail catfishes Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from northeastern Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70395

Integrative taxonomy reveals two new species of whiptail catfishes Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from northeastern Brazil

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