Dr. Wilson Costa originally described this Melanorivulus pindorama in the year 2012. In this site however Melanorivulus is considered to be a subgenus of the monophyletic genus Rivulus.

Rivulus pindorama, is a new species, from the upper Tocantins River drainage, southern Amazonas River basin, central Brazil.

It is distinguished from all other congeners by having an unique colour- pattern of flanks and unpaired fins, consisting of pale grey spots overlapped by red reticulations on the flank and transverse rows of light grey spots on the dorsal fin in both sexes, and the presence of pale blue spots on the posterior portion of the anal fin, and caudal fin bluish grey without bars in males.

Known only from the type locality, a stream about 2 km east of the town of Pindorama, Tocantins state, Brazil. All specimens of the type series were collected in a small branch of the stream, about 100 cm wide and 2-5 cm deep.The stream is a tributary to the Gameleira River, which is part of the drainage of the Sono River, a tributary to the Tocantins River.

Phylogenetic relationships of the new species are still unclear, but a possible close relationship with M. paracatuensis is hypothesized because of a superficial similarity in colour patterns, including the presence of a pale ground colour on flank with red pigmentation arranged in a reticulate pattern.

Keeping and breeding will be easy but a good cover of the aquarium is necessary because there ability to jump, even true the smallest opening, is unbelievable.

This species can, if there is enough space for them, housed in a tank with more males than one only and several females. If separated before and brought together again however, they can be very agressive to each other and fight to become dominant to others. The best way to have much offspring is to put a pair or an trio in a small tank from 10 liters with a small filter in it or with some airation. On the bottom some peat moss or dark gravel and a floating "mop" to give space for laying there eggs. The fish will, if they become a rich varity of life food, spawn during there whole adult life and produce daily between 5 to 15 eggs.

The eggs should be collected by hand and stored for about 14 days in a small container. Eggs are 1.6 mm and amber colored. It is wise, to add to the water you store the eggs in, some acryflavine to provent fungus coming up.

After hatching the young fry can eat fresh artemia nauplii without any problem. It takes 4 to 5 months to raise them to maturity. Often the number of males is far above the number of females. For some species this can become a major problem for the breeder as he has to raise many young fishes and so become able to distribute a few pairs to other hobbyists. Recent personal tests laerned that lower pH levels during the time of hatching gave a higher percentage of females. To achieve this I use some peat moss that I add to the container with the egss just before they are ready to hatch. This peat moss also is a good way to prevent eggs to become attact by fungusses.

Remarks :

The species is not in the hobby jet, so all info about keeping and breeding Rivulus pindorama are based on general data for this group of killies.

Max. size 26.2-29.3 mm SL.
Dorsal 11-12,
Anal 14-16,
D/A between base of 7th and 9th anal,
LL scale count 33-35,
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 73.1-76.2 %

Costa, W.J.E.M., 2012. Melanorivulus pindorama, a new killifish from the Tocantins River drainage, central Brazilian Cerrado (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 57-61, 2 figs., 1 tab.