The fish fauna of the Rio Peruípe, extreme southern of Bahia state

Authors

  • Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Deptartamento de Ecologia
  • Rosana Mazzoni Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Deptartamento de Ecologia

Keywords:

ichthyofauna, riachos, coastal "tabuleiros", northeastern, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrological richness on extreme southern Bahia contrasts with the poorly known freshwater fish fauna. It is surprising the presence of several species still undescribed. The present study is the first contribution dealing with the fish fauna of the local river basins. We herein investigate fish fauna of Rio Peruípe basin, a remarkably freshwater drainage, with a wide estuary. Eleven localities, geo-referred, were evaluated in streams and rivulets along that freshwater drainage. The employment of methodology for collecting the environmental data and the fishes made possible the description of each locality sampled, as well as the documentation of the taxonomic composition of the fish fauna. Illustrations of the collecting localities and of individuals of some representative species, in live coloration, are provided. There were found 26 species belonging to 12 families in 6 orders. Within the species sampled Trichomycterus pradensis Sarmento-Soares et al. (2005) and Microglanis pataxo Sarmento Soares et al. (2006) were recently described as new. About 48.7% of total amount of fishes caught belong to the order Siluriformes, 38.5% to Characiformes, 34.6% to Perciformes, 11.5% to Cyprinodontiformes, 7.7% to Gymnotiformes, 3.8% to Synbranchiformes, and 3.8% to Pleuronectiformes. The most frequent species in terms of constancy of occurrence were Geophagus brasiliensis (present in 82% of sampled localities), Hoplias malabaricus (64%), Astyanax cf. rivularis (55%), Poecilia vivipara (55%), Astyanax cf. lacustris (45%) and Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus (45%). Based on information about the fishes caught in each collecting locality there were estimated the richness, the diversity, the equitability and the dominance. The potential loss of microenvironments in some portions of rivers is pointed as a factor influencing on the occurrence and distribution of some species. The dominance of small sized fishes, not exceeding 150 mm CP, is associated to a high regional endemism.

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Published

2007-01-01

How to Cite

Sarmento-Soares, L. M., & Mazzoni, R. (2007). The fish fauna of the Rio Peruípe, extreme southern of Bahia state. Biota Neotropica, 7(3). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/353

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