Three new species of saddled loricariid catfishes, and a review of Hemiancistrus, Peckoltia, and allied genera (Siluriformes)

Abstract. Three new species of saddled hypostomine loricariids are described. According to a recent phylogenetic analysis, these species are members of the genus Peckoltia. The species differ from all described Peckoltia except Peckoltia furcata and Peckoltia sabaji by having the dentaries meet at an angle greater than 90°. The species also have similarities to Hemiancistrus, and can be separated from all described species by having dorsal saddles. We discuss the taxonomy of Peckoltia, Hemiancistrus, and allied genera and recognize Ancistomus as valid for Peckoltia feldbergae, Hemiancistrus micrommatos, Ancistrus snethlageae, Hemiancistrus spilomma, and Hemiancistrus spinosissimus. We recommend descriptions of genera for several clades of Hemiancistrus and restriction of Hemiancistrus to the type species of the genus, Hemiancistrus medians. Chaetostomus macrops is transferred to Pseudancistrus and recognized as a junior synonym of Pseudancistrus megacephalus. The Hemiancistrus annectens group of species (Hemiancistrus annectens, Hemiancistrus argus, Hypostomus aspidolepis, Hemiancistrus fugleri, Hemiancistrus holostictus, Hemiancistrus maracaiboensis, Hemiancistrus panamensis, Hemiancistrus wilsoni) are recognized in Hypostomus. Multivariate analysis reveals that the newly described species differ from one another in shape space, but overlap broadly with other Peckoltia (Peckoltia lujani), narrowly with other Peckoltia (Peckoltia greedoi), or broadly with Etsaputu (Peckoltia ephippiata).