In the year 1989, Costa examined an fish species from the Brasilian State Aruana and described it as Pituna poranga. In the year 1991 he moved the former Rivulus compactus, from Rio Tocatins, and Rivulus stellifer, from the Venezuelian Llanos also into the genus Pituna. This was not a good move as he confirmed the synonymy between P. compactus and P. poranga later in 1998. The than named Pituna stellifer - former Rivulus stellifer - however was in 1973 by Thomerson & Turner regarded as Rachovia stellifer, but cannot placed in the one- or the other genus. It is placed in its own genus now since 2008 by Hrbek et al. and named Llanolebias stellifer.

In 2007 Costa presented a major work in wich he set the key standards for this genus and described 4 new species as well. These species are P. brevirostrata, P. obliquoseriata, P. schindleri and P. xinguensis.

Behaviour:

For breeding info see the species page itself.