A new Poptella from the rio Xingu basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

A new species of Poptella is described from the rio Xingu basin, Para and Mato Grosso states, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by having a greater number of scales around the caudal peduncle (15-18 vs. 13- 14). Furthermore, this species can be easily distinguished from P. brevispina, P. longipinnis, and P. fuscata by the lower number of branched rays in the dorsal fin (9 vs. 10-11). The description of new taxon represents the third species of the genus Poptella described in the last five years.