Roeboides, Gunther, 1864

Genus Roeboides View in CoL .

The monophyly of Roeboides was tested in a cladistic context by Lucena (1998). Members of Roeboides share modifications of the dentition associated with its lepidophagous habit, a feeding mode also mentioned for Bryconexodon , Exodon , and Roeboexodon , among the Characinae . The hypothesis of Lucena (1998) that this kind of dentition and the lepidophagous habit were originated in parallel in these genera and in Roeboides is corroborated in this study.

Synapomorphies:

1. Posteriorly-oriented epioccipital spine (7): (1> 0) present. Paralleled in nodes 162 and 177.

2. Length of sphenotic spine (10): (0> 1) extending ventrally to articulation between sphenotic and hyomandibula. Reversal of synapomorphy 1 of the Characinae .

3. Dorsolateral processes of vomer (54): (0> 1) present. Paralleled in node 215 and in Bryconexodon juruenae and Markiana nigripinnis .

4. Branching of laterosensory canals of fourth or fifth infraorbitals (74): (0> 1) present. Paralleled in the Bryconops clade, in nodes 167, 177, 260, and 276, and in Bryconamericus scleroparius , Chalceus macrolepidotus , and Piaractus mesopotamicus .

5. Mamilliform teeth outside mouth (120): (0> 1) present. Paralleled in node 277 and in Probolodus heterostomus .

6. Proximal and medial radials of anal fins (294): (0> 1) fused in most pterygiophores. Paralleled in nodes 184, 208, and 221 and in Psellogrammus kennedyi and Pseudocorynopoma doriae . Some trees: Paralleled in node 295.