Egg surface morphology in the Neotropical seasonal killifi sh genus Leptolebias (Teleostei: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae)

> Abstract The egg surface of four species of the South American genus Leptolebias is examined under scanning electron microscopy. Two distinct morphological patterns are described: surface reticulate, lumen punctate, in L. marmoratus, L. aureoguttatus, and L. itanhaensis; and, surface insulate and not punctate, in L. citrinipinnis. Both the punctate lumen and the insulate pattern are features fi rstly recorded for rivulids. Phylogenetic inferences about evolution of unique characters states found are not postulated by the absence of data on chorion morphology for two congeners possibly extinct (L. splendens and L. opalescens). Mushroom-like projections about regularly distributed on egg surface were found in all examined species.