REDESCRIPTION OF APHANOTORULUS (TELEOSTEI, LORICARIIDAE) WITH DESCRIPTION OF ONE NEW SPECIES, APHANOTORULUS-AMMOPHILUS, FROM THE RIO-ORINOCO BASIN

Aphanotorulus is redescribed, and several described species are placed in Aphanotorulus based upon new information and examination of the ty pe specimens, A new species is described from sandy, lower piedmont st reams of the Rio Orinoco Basin of Venezuela, Aphanotorulus ammophilus is distinguishable from other described species by a combination of ch aracteristics including the presence of a relatively well-developed, a ngled ridge on the pterotic/supracleithrum, spots on the dorsal-fin in terradial membrane that are mostly free from the fin rays, a low cauda l peduncle depth to standard length ratio, a low orbit diameter to hea d length ratio, and a pectoral-fin spine that reaches beyond the pelvi c-fin rays when depressed. The phylogenetic relationships of Aphanotor ulus and the paraphyly of Hypostomus are discussed.