 Maratecoara splendida, |
History
Distinguished from all other species of Maratecoara in having a distinct color pattern, consisting of conspicuous orange spots on basal half of anal fin and flank region adjacent to anal fin (vs. few pale orange spots, these often absent). Maratecoara splendida is also distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: no scales on dorsal and anal-fin bases (vs. body squamation extending onto dorsal and anal-fin bases in males), dorsal profile of head straight to slightly concave in adult males (vs. strongly concave), basal half of caudal fin with orange stripes parallel to fin rays in males (vs. vertical rows of orange spots), anteroventral portion of flank with three or four oblique orange bars (vs. broad orange blotch just posterior to pectoral-fin insertion), and no distinctive bright blue zone on distal portion of anal fin (vs. broad bright blue zone in males).
Discussion partly taken from the description in 2007: Study indicates that the genera Pituna, Plesiolebias and Maratecoara are more diverse and widespread in central and northeastern Brazil than previously recorded. In addition, species in the three genera have congruent distributions, suggesting the existence of biogeographic patterns constituting areas of endemism determined by historical factors. However, phylogenetic hypotheses among species of these genera, which would be useful to erect hypotheses of biogeography, are not included here because the intra-generic plesiolebiasine relationships are still controversial.
Pituna is hypothesized to be sister to the other plesiolebiasines, based on morphology (Costa, 1998a), but according to molecular data, Plesiolebias would be the sister group to a clade comprising at least Pituna plus Maratecoara (Murphy et al., 1999) or containing Pituna plus Maratecoara plus Papiliolebias (Hrbek & Larson, 1999). Furthermore, both morphological (Costa, 1998a) and molecular (Hrbek & Larson, 1999) studies have resulted in ambiguous hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic position of plesiolebiasines among rivulids. Each of these available plesiolebiasine tree topologies could drastically affect polarization of character states within genera, making possible opposite interpretations on character evolution. It would therefore be necessary to re-evaluate phylogenetic relationships among all plesiolebiasines.
Reproduction
Breeding Maratecoara is for specialists and having patience is a must. In contrary to many other annual fishes Maratecoara, while reproducing, drop their eggs in small groups above the bottom that best is built up out of a layer of soft peatmoss or coco peat. They share that behaviour with related genera like there are Papliolebias, Plesiolebias and Pituna. Breeding tank must have a dark bottom and not too much light from above because Maratecoara are forest dwellers were light will not get under the canopy easily. There they live in swamps and small lakes. Because of urbanisation in their original area you may find them also in secundary forest or even deforestated savannah areas. You may breed them in small tanks of 10 to 20 liter and add a small sponge filter to it. Maratecoara do not like strong currents. Best is to use one male with more than one female as males can insist to much and get agressive to a female. You may also keep several pairs together but then a bigger tank is needed. It may be preferable to place peat in a bowl or other container within the aquarium to prevent its pollution by uneaten food. During breeding - but also normally - feed the fishes with life food only.
Eggs are small (about 1.5 mm.) and and after a two week period the eggs can be collected with the peat then rinsed and dried till it is damp. After that it should be stored for several months depending on the storage temperature. Temperatures as high as 30-33 Celsius can result in shorter developing time. Normal storage temperatures are 24-28 C. and you should start checking the status of the eggs for eyed up regularly after a period of at least 3-5 months depending on temperature. If eggs get into the eyed up stage you best select some of these eggs and test them in water of about 18 Celsius. If fry swims within 24 hours normally you can water the rest of the peat. Store the peat after poring off the fry again for a month and re-wet the peat to see if more /remaining eggs are then ready to hatch. Fry are small too but are able to eat freshly hatched Artemia nauplii from day one .... but feeding them with paramecium is always a good thing the first week to. Males can display their gill rakers by widening their gill covers. This is used to impress the females before courtship and is used when males fight or defend their territorium. This is a very nice feature of all Maratecoara fishes.
Photo: Close-up from an Maratecoara egg, ready to hatch (eyed-up), photographed by Jan Wirén, Sweden.
Variations
Map
Meristics
Max. size 6.0 cm.
Dorsal 10.7,
Anal 14.7,
D/A 8.5,
LL scale count (average)33.2
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 72.3 %
Depth to % SL – 23.1 %
Literature