Described in the genus Austrolebias.

Abstract: The Austrolebias adloffi species group encompasses a diverse lineage of annual killifishes that occurs along the Laguna dos Patos/Lagoa Mirim system, in both Brazilian and Uruguayan territories. We herein employ an integrative taxonomy approach to describe two new species of the group, inferring their phylogenetic relationships and evaluating their conservation status. Austrolebias cheffei sp. nov. and Austrolebias lourenciano sp. nov. are herein described from the western portion of the Laguna dos Patos system. Austrolebias cheffei is distinguished from the remaining species of the A. adloffi species group by presenting a yellowish green or yellowish blue dorsal fin, with wide black to dark brown bars extending from the base to the middle portion of the dorsal and anal fins in the males. Austrolebias lourenciano is distinguished from the remaining species of the A. adloffi species group by presenting a yellowish green dorsal fin, with light yellow or light bluish bars forming small triangles, interspersed with small dark brown rows of blotches in the dorsal fin base, and greenish blue anal fin, sometimes with lighter elongated yellowish iridescent blotches, limited to the basal region. According to mitochondrial cytb sequences, both species are reciprocally monophyletic relative to other species of the A. adloffi species group, and present positive barcoding gap values. Interestingly, both new species form a grade that is closely related to Austrolebias aff. minuano 1, an undescribed species that occurs at the opposite margin of the Laguna dos Patos. Among the other evaluated species, A. bagual, A. aff. minuano 1, A. nigrofasciatus, A. pelotapes, A. pongondo, A. arachan, and A. viarius also revealed to be reciprocally monophyletic, whereas A. minuano and A. adloffi revealed to be paraphyletic in regard to A. charrua and A. aff. minuano 2, respectively, and A. nachtigalli is subdivided in two clades, one of which including A. reicherti, which points to the need of a taxonomic review of the group. In addition, we discussed the conservation status of the new species, corrected the type locality of A. pongondo, and provided a dichotomous identification key of the A. adloffi species group. 

Volcan, M.V., L.E.K. Lanés & A.C. Gonçalves. 2014. Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 20 (4) (October): 161-172, figs. Alonso F., G.E. Terán, W.S. Serra Alanís, P. Calviño, M.M. Montes, I.D. Carcía, J.A. Barneche, A. Almirón, L. Ciotek, P. Giorgis, J. Casciotta, 2023. From the mud to the tree: phylogeny of Austrolebias killifishes, new generic structure and description of a new species (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) Zool. Journ. of the Linnean Society, XX, 1-30, Fig. 15, Tab. 2. cheffei-female. From floodplains of Rio Camaquã basin, Cristal, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. © Image made and provided by Matheus Volcan.  

Holotype. MCP 54437, male, 30.8 mm SL, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State, Cristal municipality, temporary pool in the floodplains of Rio Camaquã, Laguna dos Patos system, 31°01’48”S 52°00’32”W, L.E.K. Lanés & B. Klotzel, 28 October 2015.
Paratypes. MCP 54438, 6 males 24.7–33.1 mm SL (1 C&S), 7 females (1 C&S), 26.4–33.1 mm SL, same data
as holotype.

Garcialebias cheffei (new combination.)

To breed most Austrolebias, you need a tank with about 10 to 25 liter water in it, a small jar or plastic container of about 10 to 15 cm high, a little bit of well-boiled peat moss, or coco-peat, and a water temperature between 18 and 24 C. It is wise to add a small filter to that tank and change the water regularly for 90 %. Bring one male and, if possible, two or more females in the tank and feed the fishes daily with live food like daphnia, red- and black mosquito larvae, and white worms. Austrolebias does not accept dry food quickly, and also, the prepared cow-heart is not preferred if live food is offered. If possible, breed this genus in larger tanks with more than one pair or trio and give some hiding places if you do so. When breeding with more than one male, you should also provide more than one spawning container. Every male must have one, and you will see they show interesting territorial behavior to attract females into their spawning place.

The male "flinders" around the female, displaying his fins high- up with the most intense colors. As the female is willing to spawn, she follows the male, pressing his head towards the layer of peat, and when the female contact the male's belly, both will dive into the peat layer. This layer should have a thickness of at least the length of the largest animal or, better, some deeper so they can dive entirely into it.

The spawning occurs during the whole fertile life of the fishes, starting at 5 to 6 weeks of age, till they become old and weak or die from the lack of water in their natural environment. This "end-of-life" will be within 8 to 11 months, depending on the temperature. Higher temperatures will trigger more rapid aging.

In the wild, Austrolebias live in colder environments during the wintertime. Temperatures in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina can get very low. Incubation time usually is six weeks if stored at high temperatures ( 25 C.) and more extended if kept at lower temperatures. The development can last five to six months also. So it is wise to check the eggs regularly to see if the eyes inside the eggs are fully developed and the iris is well visible. When "eyed-up," put a part of the peat with the eggs in water at cool (ca. 18 C) temperature. If the fry usually hatches- and swims within a few hours, wet the rest of the peat. After hatching, feed the fry immediately with freshly born Artemia nauplii. A day or so later, I pour the water together with the fry off and place them in a well-filtered tank without any peat moss to grow up. Austrolebias are not used to strong currents, and juveniles can die if turbulence is too strong. The remaining peat will still have eggs inside that are not ready to hatch yet. Re-pack the peat and store it for some extra time. This hatching delay is nature's answer to short rain showers that fill pools only temporarily, followed by another dry period. Such an event would kill the entire population of the species in that area if all eggs were hatched with first rains. These (late) eggs will hatch later, sometimes very much later, and the fishes that were born earlier will eat these youngs.

As stated before, young's are growing fast and will produce their first eggs after 5 to 6 weeks already, if not even sooner. This breeding information applies to most Austrolebias. However, if the above Austrolebias- species have different behavior or extreme adult size, find these adaptions below in this chapter under <remarks>.

Remarks;

There are no reports yet on the reproduction of this species but it can be assumed that it does not differ from the general breeding method described above.

To the left: Males of representative specimens of Austrolebias adloffi species group recorded in Brazil (not preserved). (A) Garcialebias adloffi; (B) Ga. arachan; (C) Ga. bagual; (D) Ga. charrua; (E) Ga. minuano; (F) A. nachtigalli; (G) Ga. nigrofasciatus; (H) Ga. pelotapes; (I) Ga. aff. reicherti; (J) Ga. pongondo. 

© All images at the left are made and provided by Matheus Volcan. Thank you Matheus ! 

Max. size 24.4–33.1 mm in males - female same size.
Dorsal (average, male only ) 22–24,
Anal (average, male only ) 25–27,
D/A (average, male only ) 6-7,
LL scale count (average) 00.0
Pre- dorsal length to SL – 49.9–55.9 %
Depth to SL – 38.8–42.0 %
Vertebrae count (average) 00.0

Volcan M., C. Barbosa, J. Robe and L.E.K. Lanés 2021. Two new annual fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) unexpectedly discovered in the highlands of southern Brazil. Zootaxa 4965 (1): 087–113,

Volcan, M.V., L.E.K. Lanés & A.C. Gonçalves. 2014. Austrolebias bagual, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from southern Brazil. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 20 (4) (October): 161-172, figs.

Alonso F., G.E. Terán, W.S. Serra Alanís, P. Calviño, M.M. Montes, I.D. Carcía, J.A. Barneche, A. Almirón, L. Ciotek, P. Giorgis, J. Casciotta, 2023. From the mud to the tree: phylogeny of Austrolebias killifishes, new generic structure and description of a new species (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) Zool. Journ. of the Linnean Society, XX, 1-30, Fig. 15, Tab. 2.