A NEW SPECIES OF CATHOROPS (SILURIFORMES; ARIIDAE) FROM MESOAMERICA, WITH REDESCRIPTION OF FOUR SPECIES FROM THE EASTERN PACIFIC

The great similarities in the external morphologies and the lack of knowledge on ontogenetic and intersexual differences of species in the ariid genus Cathorops Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, has led to an abundance of misidentifications, causing great nomenclatural instability. Accordingly, the taxonomic statuses of the Cathorops species described from Eastern Pacific have remained controversial in the literature, even in recent studies. Here, we describe Cathorops raredonae, a new species from Mesoamerica (Mexico to El Salvador) and redescribe (in Cathorops) Tachysurus liropus Bristol, 1897, and Arius taylori Hildebrand, 1925, often listed as junior synonyms of Cathorops fuerthii (Steindachner, 1877) and Cathorops steindachneri (Gilbert and Starks, 1904), respectively, or treated as species inquirendae in Cathorops. We also redescribe and redefine the circumscriptions of C. fuerthii and C. steindachneri. Finally, we summarize current statuses of nominal species of Cathorops from the Eastern Pacific and provide an artificial key to identify the valid Pacific species.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and rheumatoid arthritis

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), one of the world's most celebrated impressionist painters, suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for most of his life. His symptoms developed when he was in his 50s and they became aggressive at about the age of 60 years that led to almost complete disability when he was 70 years old. Although the deformities he suffered because of the rheumatoid arthritis were disabling, Renoir never stopped painting nor decreased the quality of his work. The transition between styles adopted by the painter (Impressionist, Dry and Pearly periods) bear no relationship to the stages of flare-ups or the establishment of joint deformities due to rheumatoid arthritis. His work shows aspects of the body's ability to overcome pain and physical limitation.