Phalloceros harpagos Lucinda, 2008
Ellipse spot toothcarp
Phalloceros harpagos
photo by Maddern, M.

Family:  Poeciliidae (Poeciliids), subfamily: Poeciliinae
Max. size:  3.41 cm SL (male/unsexed); 4.68 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Rio Paraná-Paraguay basin and coastal drainages from rio Itaboapana to rio Araranguá.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal soft rays: 8-12; Vertebrae: 31-33. Diagnosed from Phalloceros anisophallos, Phalloceros megapolos, Phalloceros spiloura, Phalloceros reisi, Phalloceros buckupi, Phalloceros alessandrae, Phalloceros lucenorum, Phalloceros uai, Phalloceros pellos, and Phalloceros malabarbai by the female urogenital papilla straight along midline and located between the anus and the base of first anal-fin ray (vs. curved to the right, located laterally; border of the anal aperture in contact with the first anal-fin ray). Differs from Phalloceros tupinamba, Phalloceros leptokeras, and Phalloceros aspilos by the female urogenital papilla straight along midline (vs. slightly left turned); absence of a lateral ramus of the female urogenital papilla (vs. lateral ramus present); and small and simple hook in gonopodial appendix (vs. large sickle like hook). Can be distinguished from Phalloceros caudimaculatus, Phalloceros heptaktinos, Phalloceros ocellatus, Phalloceros mikrommatos, and Phalloceros leticiae by having a hook in the gonopodial appendix (vs. hook absent); from Phalloceros titthos by the absence of symphyseal papillae on large females (vs. symphyseal papillae present); and from Phalloceros enneaktinos by the possession of seven or eight dorsal-fin rays (vs. nine) (see remarks); from Phalloceros elachistos by the hook of gonopodial appendix not forming a lateral protuberance (vs. very small in adults, forming a lateral minute protuberance). In juveniles hook present and located on the appendix corner (vs. absent or (rarely) minuscule, when present in juveniles hook never situated on the appendix corner). Skin present covering the tip of appendix on juveniles (vs. skin absent). Distal half of appendix narrower than proximal half (vs. approximately as wide as or slightly narrower than proximal half) (Ref. 76852). Description: Pectoral fin with 5-8 branched rays; longitudinal series of scales 27-30; transverse series of scales 7 (Ref. 76852).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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