CHAETOSTOMA-YURUBIENSE (TELEOSTEI, SILURIFORMES), A NEW SPECIES OF LORICARIID CATFISH FROM THE AROA, URAMA, AND YARACUY RIVER SYSTEMS IN VENEZUELA

Chaetostoma yurubiense, a new species, is described from the Rios Area , Urama, and Yaracuy basins, three stream systems that empty into the Golfo Triste of the Caribbean Sea of northern Venezuela. Chaetostoma y urubiense is distinguished from the syntopic C. stannii by several fea tures, including the presence of a fleshy black keel at the posterior tip of the supraoccipital bone, a narrower head and more elongate body , pigmentation characteristics of the body and caudal and dorsal fins, shape of the caudal fin, and five (vs four) anal-fin rays. Chaetostom a yurubiense is distinguished from all other described species of Chae tostoma inhabiting Venezuela by combinations of these characteristics and the number and shape of the cheek spines.