Apteronotus milesi, new species of ghost knifefish (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae) from the Cauca River, with a key to apteronotids from the Magdalena-Cauca basin, Colombia

Abstract

Aperonotus milesi, new species, is described from the Quebrada Cristales, Rio Chanco and Rio La Vieja, tributaries of the upper Cauca River Basin, in Colombia. It can be distinguished from its congeners in the trans-Andean region by a light brown body coloration, with fine black pigment spots distributed over the integument; low number of anal-fin rays; and presence of secondary sexual dimorphism. The description of this new species brings the number of the trans-Andean apteronotids to nine. A dichotomous key to Apteronotidae from the Magdalena-Cauca hydrographic region is provided. © 2005 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil.