Roberto E. Reis

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation

ABSTRACT We present a new map depicting the first global biogeographic regionalization of Earths freshwater systems. This map of freshwater ecoregions is based on the distributions and compositions of freshwater fish species and incorporates major ecological and evolutionary patterns. Covering virtually all freshwater habitats on Earth, this ecoregion map, together with associated species data, is a useful tool for underpinning global and regional conservation planning efforts (particularly to identify outstanding and imperiled freshwater systems); for serving as a logical framework for large-scale conservation strategies; and for providing a global-scale knowledge base for increasing freshwater biogeographic literacy. Preliminary data for fish species compiled by ecoregion reveal some previously unrecognized areas of high biodiversity, highlighting the benefit of looking at the worlds freshwaters through a new framework.

Fish biodiversity and conservation in South America

The freshwater and marine fish faunas of South America are the most diverse on Earth, with current species richness estimates standing above 9100 species. In addition, over the last decade at least 100 species were described every year. There are currently about 5160 freshwater fish species, and the estimate for the freshwater fish fauna alone points to a final diversity between 8000 and 9000 species. South America also has c. 4000 species of marine fishes. The mega-diverse fish faunas of South America evolved over a period of >100 million years, with most lineages tracing origins to Gondwana and the adjacent Tethys Sea. This high diversity was in part maintained by escaping the mass extinctions and biotic turnovers associated with Cenozoic climate cooling, the formation of boreal and temperate zones at high latitudes and aridification in many places at equatorial latitudes. The fresh waters of the continent are divided into 13 basin complexes, large basins consolidated as a single unit plus historically connected adjacent coastal drainages, and smaller coastal basins grouped together on the basis of biogeographic criteria. Species diversity, endemism, noteworthy groups and state of knowledge of each basin complex are described. Marine habitats around South America, both coastal and oceanic, are also described in terms of fish diversity, endemism and state of knowledge. Because of extensive land use changes, hydroelectric damming, water divergence for irrigation, urbanization, sedimentation and overfishing 4-10% of all fish species in South America face some degree of extinction risk, mainly due to habitat loss and degradation. These figures suggest that the conservation status of South American freshwater fish faunas is better than in most other regions of the world, but the marine fishes are as threatened as elsewhere. Conserving the remarkable aquatic habitats and fishes of South America is a growing challenge in face of the rapid anthropogenic changes of the 21st century, and deserves attention from conservationists and policy makers.

Molecular phylogeny of the Neoplecostominae and Hypoptopomatinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) using multiple genes.

A phylogenetic analysis is provided for representatives of more than one hundred species of the catfish family Loricariidae, including nearly all genera of the subfamilies Neoplecostominae and Hypoptopomatinae. This analysis is based on fragments of the subunit 1 of the cytochrome c oxidase gene (COI), the recombination activating genes 1 (RAG1) and 2 (RAG2), and the F-Reticulon 4 gene. We obtained an alignment of 4678 contiguous nucleotides for 136 species of 50 loricariid genera from five loricariid subfamilies, and ten outgroup species from five loricarioid families. Our results from Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian analyses show the following set of interrelationships ((((Hypoptopomatinae, Neoplecostominae) Hypostominae), Loricariinae) Delturinae). However, neither Hypoptopomatinae nor Neoplecostominae were recovered as monophyletic groups. A previously hypothesized monophyly of Hypoptopomatini and Otothyrini was refuted. Furthermore, the genera Pareiorhaphis, Pareiorhina, Hisonotus and Parotocinclus were recovered as polyphyletic.

Systematics of the subfamily Poeciliinae Bonaparte (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), with an emphasis on the tribe Cnesterodontini Hubbs

Osteological and soft anatomical features of representatives of poeciliine genera were studied to test the monophyly of the poeciliine tribes and to advance a hypothesis of relationships within the subfamily. The resultant hypothesis supports the proposal of a new classification for the subfamily Poeciliinae. Diagnoses are provided for suprageneric clades. The tribe Tomeurini is resurrected and the new tribes Brachyrhaphini and Priapichthyini as well as the supertribe Poeciliini are described. New usages of old tribe names are proposed based on the phylogenetic framework.

Characidiin Genus Characidium (Teleostei, Characiformes) in Southern Brazil, with Description of Three New Species

Three new species of the characidiin fish genus Characidium are described from southern Brazil. Characidium serrano sp.n., from the upper rio Uruguay drainage in the Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states, is diagnosed by the presence of unique oblique bars on the sides of the body. Characidium orientale sp.n., from the laguna dos Patos drainage, in eastern Rio Grande do Sul state, and C. occidentale sp.n., from the rio Uruguay drainage in western Rio Grande do Sul, are members of a group of species (also including C. rachovii, which has a short lateral line) diagnosed by the presence of roundish black marks on the pelvic, dorsal, anal fins; C. orientale and C. occidentale are distinguished from each other by the relative size of these marks near the anterior end of the anal fin (larger in C. occidentale), and their organization in the dorsal fin (forming a band in C. occidentale). The status of the other four species of Characidiinae (C. pterostictum, C. rachovii, C. tenue, and Characidium sp. cf. C. zebra) occurring in the area is briefly reviewed. Descrevem-se tres especies novas de peixes caracidiineos do genero Characidium ocorrentes no sul do Brazil. Characidium serrano sp.n., da bacia do alto rio Uruguai nos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina, sao diagnosticados pela presenca exclusiva de barras obliquas nas laterais dos corpo. Characidium orientalesp.n., do sistema da laguna dos Patos, no leste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, e C. occidentale sp.n., da bacia do rio Uruguai no oeste daquele estado, sao membros de um grupo de especies (que tambem inclui C. rachovii, a qual possui linha lateral curta) diagnosticado pela presenca de manchas pretas arredondadas nas nadadeiras pelvicas, dorsal e anal; C. orientale and C. occidentale diferem no tamanho destas marcas (maiores em C. occidentale) junto a porSao anterior da nadadeira anal e sua organiza7ao na nsdadeira dorsal (formando uma faixa transversal em C. occidentale). Discute-se, tambem, a sistematica das outras quatro especies de caracidiineos (C. pterostictum, C. rachovii, C. tenue, and Characidium sp. cf. C. zebra) ocorrentes na area.

Allozyme relationships in hypostomines (Teleostei: Loricariidae) from the Itaipu Reservoir, Upper Rio Paraná basin, Brazil

In an allozyme electrophoresis survey of 15 hypostomine species from the Itaipu Hydroelectric Reservoir, 25 loci from 14 enzyme systems were scored. Allozyme data allowed recording diagnostic genetic markers for all species analyzed and for some species groups within Hypostomus, a taxon which is taxonomically still unresolved in the Upper Rio Paraná basin. The mean expected heterozygosity of the species was considerably variable and hypotheses to tentatively explain this variation are discussed. A cladogram based upon the allelic frequencies of the species analyzed was produced by the continuous maximum likelihood method: Rhinelepis aspera and M. parananus were separated from the species of Hypostominae by a long branch length. Pterygoplichthys anisitsi was the sister of all the representatives of the genus Hypostomus. Within Hypostomus, two main clades were produced: in the first, H. cochliodon was the sister of the species comprising the H. plecostomus group, and in the second, the tree showed the following relationships: (H. albopunctatus (H. regani + Hypostomus sp. 3) + (H. margaritifer (H. microstomus (Hypostomus sp. 1 (H. ternetzi + Hypostomus sp. 2))))). Hypostomus ternetzi and Hypostomus sp. 2 are referred to here as representatives of the H. ternetzi group.

Three New Species of the Loricariid Catfish Genus Loricariichthys (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from Southern South America

Abstract Sixteen species of Loricariichthys Bleeker, 1862 are currently recognized in South America, four of which inhabit the continent portions south of the Amazon basin: Loricariichthys anus (Valenciennes, 1836) from lower río Paraná, rio Uruguai, and coastal streams in southern Brazil; Loricariichthys castaneus (Castelnau, 1855) from coastal streams of southeastern Brazil; Loricariichthys labialis (Boulenger, 1895) from río Paraguay and lower río Parana; and Loricariichthys platymetopon Isbrücker and Nijssen, 1979, from Río de la Plata basin. Three additional new species are described from this region, Loricariichthys edentatus n. sp. from the Province of Entre Rios, Argentina, Loricariichthys melanocheilus n. sp. from the rio Uruguai basin, and Loricariichthys rostratus n. sp. from the Itaipu Hydroelectric reservoir, in the río Paraná. Loricariichthys edentatus n. sp. has no teeth on the premaxilla, a feature unique in the genus. The monophyly of the genus Loricariichthys is discussed and it is provisionally diagnosed by having (1) the third infrapharyngobranchial with a triangular lateral flange; (2) ventral shelf of the antero- and posterohyal tall, deflected posteriorly so that it nearly forms a 180° angle with the main bodies of the bones; (3) the upper lip coalesced with the premaxillary region medially, never having barbel-like fringes along the transverse, medial portion and (4) the lower lip of immature males and females formed by two thick, cushionlike structures. Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1881) is regarded as a junior synonym of L. castaneus. Dezessies espécies de Loricariichthys Bleeker, 1862 são atualmente reconhecidas na América do Sul, quatro das quais habitam as porções do continente ao sul da bacia Amazônica: Loricariichthys anus (Valenciennes, 1836) do baixo rio Paraná, rio Uruguai e bacias costeiras do sul do Brasil; Loricariichthys castaneus (Castelnau, 1855) das bacias costeiras do sudeste do Brasil; Loricariichthys labialis (Boulenger, 1895) do rio Paraguai e baixo rio Paraná; e Loricariichthys platymetopon Isbrücker and Nijssen (1979) do rio Paraná, rio Paraguai e rio Uruguai. Três novas espécies são descritas desta mesma região: Loricariichthys edentatus sp. n. da Provincia de Entre Rios, Argentina; Loricariichthys melanocheilus sp. n. da bacia do rio Uruguai; e Loricariichthys rostratus sp. n. da região do lago da Usina Hidroelétrica de Itaipu, no rio Paraná. Loricariichthys edentatus sp. n. não apresenta dentes no premaxilar, um caráter único neste gênero. O monofiletismo de Loricariichthys é discutido, sendo o gênero diagnosticado provisoriamente por apresentar: (1) o terceiro infrafaringobranquial com uma lâmina lateral triangular; (2) lâminas ventrais dos cerato-hial anterior e posterior altas, defletidas posteriormente para quase formar um ângulo de 180° com o corpo principal dos óssos; (3) o lábio superior coalescido com a região do premaxilar medialmente, nunca possuindo franjas ou barbelas ao longo da porção medio-transversal; e (5) o lábio inferior de machos imaturos e fêmeas formado por duas estruturas grossas e arredondadas. Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1881) é considerado sinônimo júnior de L. castaneus.

A better way forward for Brazil's fisheries.

In December 2014, the Brazilian Minister of the Environment released the new national red lists enumerating 2113 plants and 1173 animals threatened with extinction ([ 1 ][1]). Of the 475 aquatic species on the list, 83 are commercially exploited by fisheries, mainly as by-catch. The industrial

Taxonomic Review of Rineloricaria (Loricariidae: Loricariinae) from the Laguna dos Patos Drainage, Southern Brazil, with the Descriptions of Two New Species and the Recognition of Two Species Groups

Abstract The species of Rineloricaria from the Laguna dos Patos drainage are reviewed. Four species are rediagnosed: R. strigilata, R. cadeae, R. microlepidogaster, and R. longicauda, and two new species are described: R. malabarbai and R. baliola. Rineloricaria malabarbai is distinguished from all other Rineloricaria species except R. maquinensis by its unique abdominal pattern, composed of a large naked area with a single preanal complex of plates and one or two small squarish platelets at the base of pelvic-fin spine and connecting the preanal complex to the lateral abdominal plates, and from R. maquinensis it is distinguished by a longer predorsal length, shorter postanal length, longer abdominal length, broader cleithral width, broader body width at anal-fin origin, deeper head, and shorter maxillary barbel. Rineloricaria baliola is distinguished by its unique color pattern composed of dark, wide bands covering most of the distal one-half of all fins, and by its snout with a roundish naked area, generally reaching to anteriormost pore of infraorbital ramus of sensory canal. The species in Rineloricaria are divided in two phenetic groups, based on general background color pattern, distribution of plates on abdomen, head and snout shape, shape of the naked area at tip of snout, number of lateral body series of plates, and presence of the dorsal-fin spinelet. Species illustrations and a taxonomic key for the Laguna dos Patos drainage are provided. Son revisadas las especies de Rineloricaria del sistema de la Laguna dos Patos. Cuatro especies son rediagnosticadas: R. strigilata, R. cadeae, R. microlepidogaster, y R. longicauda; y dos nuevas especies se describen para el sistema: R. malabarbai y R. baliola. Rineloricaria malabarbai se distingue de las otras especies de Rineloricaria, excepto R. maquinensis, por su único patrón de placas abdominales compuesto por un gran área desnuda con un complejo de placas preanales y una o dos pequeñas placas cuadrangulares en la base de la espina de la aleta pélvica, que conectan el complejo preanal a las placas abdominales laterales. De R. maquinensis se distingue por presentar mayor longitud predorsal, menor longitud postanal, mayor longitud abdominal, mayor ancho cleithral, mayor ancho del cuerpo en el origen de la aleta anal, cabeza más baja y barbillas maxilares más cortas. Rineloricaria baliola se distingue por su único patrón de coloración, compuesta de oscuras y amplias barras en todas las aletas, comprendiendo la mitad distal, y por su patrón de placas abdominales. Las especies de Rineloricaria son divididas en dos grupos fenéticos, basados en el patrón de coloración general, cobertura de placas en el abdomen, forma de la cabeza y el hocico, forma del área desnuda del extremo del hocico, número de series de placas laterales del cuerpo y presencia de “spinelet” en la aleta dorsal. Se provee una clave taxonómica e ilustraciones para las especies del sistema de la Laguna dos Patos.

Pimelodella spelaea: A New Cave Catfish from Central Brazil, with Data on Ecology and Evolutionary Considerations (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae)

Abstract Pimelodella spelaea, new species, is described from a subterranean stream tributary to the São Bernardo River inside the São Bernardo Cave, in the São Domingos karst area, upper Tocantins River basin, central Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from its epigean (surface) congeners by derived troglomorphic features such as smaller eyes and fainter coloration, which are nevertheless less reduced than in the other known troglobitic (exclusively subterranean) species, Pimelodella kronei, from southeast Brazil. Ecological data such as habitat characteristics, population data based on mark-recapture techniques, and distributions of frequencies of standard length, weight, and condition factor, were obtained during the dry season of 2000 (May to September). A relatively high population density (about one individual per m−2) was recorded for the accessible habitat, which is probably much lower in the nonaccessible, phreatic area of distribution. The low condition factor recorded for P. spelaea, which tended to decrease along the study period, indicates a regime of severe food limitation, intensifying along the dry season. An allopatric model of differentiation is hypothesized, either because of topographic isolation or because of local extinction of epigean relatives, or both factors combined. The conservation status of the new species is also discussed.