Macrobrachium brasiliense Heller 1862

Macrobrachium brasiliense (Heller, 1862)

Fig. 4 A–D

Palaemon brasiliensis Heller, 1862: 419.

Macrobrachium brasiliense, Holthuis, 1952: 79.— Rodríguez, 1981: 47.— Rodriguez, 1982: 382.— Magalhães & Walker, 1988: 279.— Pereira, 1993: 343.— López & Pereira, 1996: 53.— Campos, 1997: 237.— Magalhães, 2002: 1096.— Melo, 2003: 346.— García - Dávila & Magalhães, 2004: 667.

(For detailed synonymy refer to Holthuis, 1952).

Material examined

Amazonas: Leticia. Corregimiento La Pedrera, Chorro de Córdoba, 100 m asl, 8 Nov 1994, leg. M. R. Campos, 60 males, 27 females, 2 ovígerous, 16 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 1395.— Leticia - Tarapacá, km 11, in creek, 30 Apr 1999, leg. F. Arbeláez, 11 males, 6 females, ICN-MHN-CR 1791.— Leticia-Tarapacá, Tacana stream, affluent of Amazon River, 80 m asl, 10, 14 Dec 2003, leg. C. Pinto, 8 males, 9 females, 30 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 2205. — Puerto Nariño. in creek, 3 Jan 1972, leg. H. Harima & H. T. Boschung, 7 males, 8 females, 1 ovígerous, 2 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 0034.— May 1957, leg. Nicéforo María, 5 males, 1 female, MLS 10.— Amacayacu Park, 1 female, Universidad de los Andes.

Arauca: Caño Limón, Agua Verde Lake, 125 m asl, 15 Aug 1991, leg. G. Galvis, 11 males, 7 females, ICN-MHN-CR 1755.

Boyacá: San Luis de Gaceno, Sardinita stream, 300 m asl, 28 - 29 Dec 1996, leg. R. Casallas & A. J. Bernal, 2 males, MLS 16.

Caquetá: Araracuara, Administración stream, 19 Nov 1982, leg. M. R. Campos, 2 males, ICN-MHN-CR 0097.— Montañitas, Vereda Palma Azul, near School, 320 m asl, 9 Apr 1990, leg. R. Restrepo, 2 specimens without pleopods, ICN-MHN-CR 1197.

Casanare: Agua Azul. Cayaguaro stream, 20 Nov 1982, leg. M. R. Campos, 4 males, 1 ovígerous females, ICN-MHN-CR 0 502.

Cundinamarca: Medina. Vereda Brisas del Humea, Choapal stream, affluent of Humea River, 350 m asl, 21 Oct 1989, leg. M. R. Campos, 7 males, 7 females, 4 ovigerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1137.— Gazamancito River, 500 m asl, 27 Jul 1986, leg. R. Restrepo, 1 male, 1 female, ICN-MHN-CR 0647.— La Arenosa creek, 300 m asl, 29 Jul 1986, leg. R. Restrepo, 2 males, 2 females, 1 without pleopods, ICN-MHN-CR 0648.— Vereda La Sarza, La Sarza stream, 400 m asl, 21 Oct 1989, leg. M. R. Campos, 22 males, 22 females, 8 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1138.

Meta: Acacías. Castilla, stream, Castilla-Chidrimene Highway, 510 m asl, 20 Apr 2004, leg. E. Flórez, 20 males, 15 females, 5 juveniles ICN-MHN-CR 2178.— Centro Araguaney, Siete Vueltas stream, 514 m asl, 22 Apr 2004, leg. E. Flórez, 15 males, 5 females, 5 juveniles ICN-MHN-CR 2179.— Acacías River, 500 m asl, 18 Apr 2004, leg. E. Flórez, 2 females, ICN-MHN-CR 2180.— Cumaral. Carnicerías creek, 400 m asl, 30 Apr 1995, leg. G. Galvis, 1 male, 1 female, ICN-MHN-CR 1463.— Pacuca creek, 400 m asl, 23 Oct 1994, leg.

M. R. Campos, 1 male, 1 ovígerous female, ICN-MHN-CR 1364.— El Paraiso farm, 450 m asl, 6 May 1988, leg. M. R. de Campos, 23 males, 9 females, 2 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 0866.— El Paraiso Farm, in creeck, 450 m asl, 7 May 1988, leg. G. Galvis, 21 males, 35 females, 1 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 0868.— La Y stream, 550 m asl, 9 Oct 1990, leg. M. R. Campos, 4 males, 7 females, 4 ovíferous, ICN-MHN-CR 1212.— Vereda El Palmar, Caibe creek, 550 m asl, 25 Oct 1994, leg. M. R. Campos, 8 males, 2 females, 1 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1368.— Vereda El Palmar, Mata de Guadua creek, 400 m asl, 27 Oct 1994, leg. M. R. Campos, 2 males, 2 females, ICN-MHN-CR 1372.— El Dorado, Inspección San Isidro del Ariari, Vereda La Isla, Aguas Arcas stream, 470 m asl, 21 Nov 1995, leg. M. R. Campos, 8 males, 6 females, 2 ovígerous, ICN- MHN-CR 1543.— Vereda Santa Rosa, Paujil creek, 530 m asl, 11 Jun 1996, leg. M. R. Campos, 4 males, ICN-MHN-CR 1591.— La Uribe, La Cunsia stream, 480 m asl, 25 Nov 1987, leg. P. Cala, 12 males, 25 females, 1 juvenile, ICN-MHN-CR 0876.— Mesetas, Jardín de las Peñas, Las Peñas stream, affluent of Sausa River, 24 Nov 1987, leg. P. Cala, 59 males, 47 females, 22 ovigerous, 6 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 1745, 1746, 1820.— Vereda San Isidro, El Almendro Farm, Pailas creek, affluent of Duda River, 480 m asl, 9 Feb 1988, leg. P. Cala, 2 males, ICN-MHN-CR 0879.— Puerto Gaitán, Vereda. San Miguel, Miti-Miti creek, 130 m asl, 17 Jun 1996, leg. M. R. Campos, 14 males, 8 females, 3 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1592.— Puerto López, Cafam Llanos, Mata-Mata Lake, 180 m asl, 20 Mar 2004, leg. M. Leyva, 1 male, 11 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 2181, 2206.— Restrepo, Vereda Caney Alto, El Horizonte Farm, 750 m asl, 12 Oct 1990, leg. M. R. Campos, 8 males, 4 females, ICN-MHN-CR 1216.— Vereda Caney Alto, dike in Seminar, 700 m asl, 11 Oct 1990, leg. M. R. Campos, 14 males, 7 females, 1 ovigerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1214.— Vereda Caney Bajo, 480 m asl, 29 Oct 1994, leg. M. R. Campos, 6 males, 5 females, 1 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 1375.— Vereda Caney Bajo, San Ignacio creek, affluent of Caney River, 300 m asl, 31 Oct 1997, leg. J. Alvarez, 6 males, 1 female, ICN- MHN-CR 1672.— Vereda Caney Bajo, San Miguel creek, 450 m asl, 29 Apr 1988, leg. M. R. Campos, 30 males, 25 females, 14 juveniles, ICN-MHN-CR 0857.— Vereda Caney Bajo, San Miguel creek, 350 m asl, 20 Apr 1989, leg. M. R. Campos, 13 males, 8 females, ICN-MHN-CR 0952.— Vereda Caney Bajo, Pilatos stream, 350 m asl, 24 Mar 1984, leg. M. R. Campos, 1 male, 3 females, 1 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 0556.— San Juan de Arama. Vereda La Curía, Estación del Inderena, La Curía creek, 500 m asl, 20, 21, 23 Sep 1987, leg. M. R. Campos, 30 males, 16 females, ICN-MHN-CR 0 809, 0 811, 0814.— Serranía La Macarena, Duda Canyon, 1990, 1 male, Universidad de los Andes. — Villavicencio. San Antonio creek, alt 450 m asl, 24 Mar 1974, leg. I. Berrío, 27 males, 16 females, 5 ovígerous, ICN-MHN-CR 0059.— South of Villavicencio, 1 male, MLS 3.— Villavicencio, Jan 1930, 1 male, 4 females, 3 ovígerous, MLS 5.— Villavicencio, Jul 1935, 5 males, 10 females, 1 ovígerous, MLS 6.— Villavicencio, Jan 1953, leg. Nicéforo María, 1 male, MLS 7.

Norte de Santander: Toledo, El Sarare, El Porvenir Farm, 1600 m asl, 15 Dec 1971, leg. A. Rodriguez, 1 male, 3 females, 2 ovíferous, ICN-MHN-CR 1471.— El Sarare, El Porvenir Farm, 15 Dec, 1971, leg. A. Rodríguez & R. Güevara, 4 males, 8 females, 1 ovigerous, MLS 11.

Putumayo: Orito, 800 m asl, 15 May 2004, leg. C. A. Cipamocha, 4 males, 1 juvenil, ICN-MHN-CR 2207.— Villagarzón, Alto de Chalguayaco, 400 m asl, 15 May 1998, leg. L. A. Núñez, 1 male, ICN-MHN- CR 1707.

Diagnosis

Rostrum straight, distal portion slightly curved downward, as long as or slightly shorter than scaphocerite, upper margin with 7 to 12 teeth regularly spaced, including 1-4 teeth completely post orbital, lower margin 2 to 5 teeth; carapace covered with spinules on anterolateral surface; abdomen with low region of pleurae pubescent; telson terminal margin ending in sharp midpoint, flanked by two pairs of spinules, internal pair overreaching midpoint and external pair. First pair of pereopods overreaching scaphocerite with 1/2 to 3/4 of carpus. Second pair of pereopods elongated, covered with spines, which are prominent on ventral surface, similar in shape, slightly different in size, the larger pereopod overreaching scaphocerite with 1/4 of merus; merus 0.75 to 0.81 x carpus length, 0.52 to 0.57 x palm length; carpus, 2.73 to 4.24 x as long as wide and 0.66 to 0.75 x palm length; palm subcylindrical with rows of spines, of similar size, on internal margin, 3.95 to 6.30 x as long as wide, 3.44 to 4.63 x as long as high; fingers gaping when closed, 0.45 to 0.63 x palm length, prominent tooth on midcutting edge of mobile finger, and another one on its proximal portion, between them usually a denticle; a tooth on midcutting edge of fixed finger usually followed by 5 denticles on its base.

Size. The largest male TL 77.2 mm, CL 26.3 mm; the largest female TL 70.2 mm, CL 22.3 mm; 66 ovigerous females were examined: TL 34.1 to 61.6 mm, CL 9.1 to 18.4 mm, with large and few number of eggs.

Remarks

This species is most similar to Macrobrachium nattereri (Heller, 1862). The two can be distinguished by differences in the second pair of pereopods in adult males. The palm in M. brasiliense is subcylindrical, more than 3 times as long as high, and the spines on the internal margin are of similar size, whereas it is swollen laterally, less than 3 times as long as high and the spines on the internal margin are of irregular size in M. nattereri; the fingers in M. brasiliense are usually less than 0.6 times the palm length, but they are longer than 0.6 times in M. nattereri. Macrobrachium brasiliense is also similar to M. ferreirai Kensley & Walker, 1982. The two can be distinguished by differences in the carapace and the second pair of pereopods in adult males. The anterolateral surface of the carapace in M. brasiliense is covered by spinules; to the contrary, it is smooth in M. ferreirai. The second pair of pereopods in M. brasiliense is more prominent than in M. ferreirai; the palm in M. brasiliense is less or equal to 6.3 times as long as wide, whereas it is more than 9 times as long as wide in M. ferreirai; the fingers in M. brasiliense are equal or more than 0.45 times the palm length, whereas in M.