Cynopoecilus Explained

Cynopoecilus is a genus of killifish in the family Rivulidae. They are endemic to seasonal temporary pools in Southern Brazil and northeastern Uruguay. Most species are restricted to the region bordering the Patos–Mirim lagoons, but C. feltrini is found at the Tubarão River (north of the lagoons) and C. intimus is found at the middle Gravataí River (inland from the lagoons).^[1] The Cynopoecilus species have small ranges and are often threatened. The region inhabited by C. intimus has experienced extensive habitat destruction and recent surveys have not been able to locate this species; it may already be extinct.^[1]

They are small fish, up to in standard length. Uniquely among killifish, Cynopoecilus and the closely related Campellolebias have internal fertilization.^[1]

Species

There are currently 6 recognized species in this genus:

• Cynopoecilus feltrini W. J. E. M. Costa, Amorim & Mattos, 2016^[1]
• Cynopoecilus fulgens W. J. E. M. Costa, 2002
• Cynopoecilus intimus W. J. E. M. Costa, 2002
• Cynopoecilus melanotaenia (Regan, 1912)
• Cynopoecilus nigrovittatus W. J. E. M. Costa, 2002
• Cynopoecilus notabilis Ferrer, Wingert & L. R. Malabarba, 2014^[2]

Notes and References

1. Costa, W.J.E.M., Amorim, P.F. & Mattos, J.L.O. (2016): A new species of inseminating seasonal killifish of the Cynopoecilus melanotaenia complex from southern Brazil (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Biodiversity Data Journal, 4: e6888.
2. Ferrer, J., Wingert, J.M. & Malabarba, L.R. (2014): Description of a new species and phylogenetic analysis of the subtribe Cynopoecilina, including continuous characters without discretization (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 172 (4): 846–866.