A new species of Leporinus Agassiz, 1829 (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the rio Tocantins, Brazil

A new species of Leporinus is described based on specimens from the lower rio Tocantins, Para State, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by having conspicuous dark spots on center of scales on anterolateral portion of body, 33 or 34 scales in lateral line, 16 scales rows around caudal peduncle, four scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line and four between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin, and four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary. The new species is similar to Leporinus gomesi, L. granti, and L. nijsseni for having three prominent dark midlateral blotches, smaller blotches formed by dermal pigment, five of which form an interrupted "X" between head and first midlateral blotch, small dark spots formed by epidermal pigment, terminal mouth with four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary, and relatively few scales on lateral line ( less than 36). In addition, new data is provided for the type specimens of Leporinus granti and L. megalepis (=Hypomasticus megalepis),, and L. badueli is confirmed as a junior synonym of L. granti.