Key of Identification of Pike-cichlid Flamengo - Crenicichla acutirostris

Crenicichla acutirostris - Teles Pires

1. In lateral view, the posterior region of the tooth covers the premaxilla ... 3

3. Presence of a large lobe in the upper region of the branchial arch .......... 4

4 '. Dark spot when present, located medially on body .................................. 5

5 '. Ceratobranchialis with more than 13 branchial traces ............................. 6

6 '. The anterior half of the areas between the infraorbital and the exposed portion of the pre-operculum devoid of scales .............................................................................................................................. 7

7 '. Absence of dark vertical stripe below the eye .......................................... 8

8 '. Less than 8 vertical bars in the body ....................................................... 10

10. More than 40 scales in the E1 series ....................................................... 13

13. Small and numerous scales; E1 line with more than 85 scales ............ 14

14 '. Absence of a definite humeral spot, when only a darkening occurs after the operculum; absence of small dark spots on the head in young people ............................................................................................................................. 15

15 '. Absence of dark spot after the operculum; presence of a longitudinal band .................................................................................................................... 16

16 '. Low body; long muzzle; spot below the absent eye; caudal fin with a small spot without ocelli ........................................... Crenicichla acutirostris

The Crenicichla lugubris group consists o the largest species in the genus, up to 300mm SL. The number scales is high (more than 82, versus fewer than 80 in all other Crenicichla species), as is the number scales in the lateral lines, the number o dorsal spines and especially the number of branched dorsal in rays. The latter characters, however, are not unique within the genus, and not all are present in each member of this group. Some o the members have a black or dark dots on the head.

Such dots are presente in juveniles (up to 120 mm) o some closely related species in this group, and in two species also in larges specimens.

Key to the species of the lugubris group Morphometric and meristic ranges are based on 95% conidence limits or averages and are not absolute values.