Description of five new species of Acestrocephalus Eigenmann and redescription of A-sardina and A-boehlkei (Characiformes: Characidae)

Acestrocephalus maculosus, A. stigmatus, A. nigrifasciatus, A. acutus, and A. pallidus are described as new species and A. sardina and A. boehlkei are redescribed. Acestrocephalus ginesi is considered synonymous with A. sardina. Specimens of Acestrocephalus anomalus, a valid trans-Andean species, were not available for study. Acestrocephalus stigmatus, A. maculosus, and A. boehlkei have a dark humeral blotch not present in the remaining species and the species within the two species groups thus characterized are told apart by meristic and morphometric data as well as morphological structures associated with the pseudotympanum.