Continental fishes from the Tambaba Environmentally Protected Area, Paraíba State, Brazil

A Área de Protenção Ambiental de Tambaba localiza-se na costa sul do Estado da Paraíba, no bioma Mata Atlântica da região Nordeste do Brasil. A Área de Protenção Ambiental de Tambaba é composta por uma série de drenagens independentes: microbacias do Rio Graú, Mucatú e do Rio Bucatú, e sub-bacia do rio Caboclo, pertencente à microbacia do rio Gurugi. Amostras da ictiofauna foram coletadas em cinco expedições científicas entre os meses de junho e julho de 2015. Vinte e nove locais ​​de diferentes habitats (por exemplo, abrangendo tributários, córregos, rios e estuários) foram acessados ​​para amostragem. Um total de 44 espécies distribuídas em 38 gêneros, 25 famílias e 17 ordens foram distribuídas na região hidrográfica de Tambaba. Espécies de água doce compreendem 36% (n = 16) e espécies marinhas-estuarinas 64% (n = 28) do total de espécimes coletados. Duas espécies invasoras ocorrem nos locais de água doce: Cichla monoculus e Poecilia reticulata. Cheirodon jaguaribensis, Cichlasoma orientale e Crenicichla brasiliensis são endêmicos da região Nordeste do Brasil, com as primeiras espécies restritas à ecorregião hidrográfica Nordeste Caatinga e Drenagens Costeiras.Tambaba environmentally protected area is situated on the south coast of Paraíba State, within the Atlantic forest biome of the northeastern region in Brazil. The Tambaba environmentally protected area consists of a series of independent drainages: Graú, Mucatú, and Bucatú river micro-basins, and Caboclo River sub-basin that belongs to Gurugi River micro-basin. Ichthyological samples were collected in five scientific expeditions between months of June and July in 2015. Twenty-nine sites from different habitats (e.g., spanning tributaries, streams, rivers, and estuaries) were accessed for sampling. A total of 44 species distributed within 38 genera, 25 families, and 17 orders were assigned to the Tambaba hydrographic region. Freshwater species comprised 36% (n = 16) and marine-estuarine species 64% (n = 28) of the total collected specimens. Two invasive species occur in the freshwater sites: Cichla monoculus and Poecilia reticulata. Cheirodon jaguaribensis, Cichlasoma orientale, and Crenicichla brasiliensis are endemic to the Brazilian Northeast region with the first species restricted to the Northeast Caatinga and Coastal drainages hydrographic ecoregion

Primeiro registro de peixe anual endêmico de ambiente semiárido no Nordeste do Brasil

Studies focusing the biology of annual fish are still scarce, and in the case of threatened species, research, as well as the adoption of protective measures for these populations, are needed. We present herein the first record of Hypsolebias antenori (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae) in temporary pools of Lajedo de Soledade, located in a semiarid region, in Northeastern Brazil. Five individuals (two males and three females) were captured in three temporary pools in May 2017. For the capture, a sieve (50 x 50 cm) with a 4 mm of mesh size was used. The males showed a total length ranging from 3.5 to 4.7 cm (average: 4.1 cm) and body mass amplitude between 0.38 to 0.94 g (average: 0.66 g). The females had a total length from 3.5 to 3.9 cm (average: 3.67 cm) and body mass amplitude of 0.55 to 0.70 g (average: 0.64). Considering that the collection area is one of the most important archaeological sites in Brazil, this endemic species of Caatinga demonstrates the importance of conservation of the environment and serves to support the preservation of the present area that is not recognized and registered as cultural and environmental patrimony.Keywords: Karst, Jandaíra Formation, Caatinga, temporary pools, Cynolebiidae, Hypsolebias antenori.Estudos que enfocam a biologia de peixes anuais ainda são escassos e, no caso de espécies ameaçadas, são necessárias pesquisas, bem como a adoção de medidas de proteção para essas populações. Apresenta-se, neste trabalho, o primeiro registro de Hypsolebias antenori (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae) em poças temporárias do Lajedo de Soledade, localizado em uma região semiárida, no Nordeste do Brasil. Cinco indivíduos (dois machos e três fêmeas) foram capturados em três piscinas temporárias em maio de 2017. Para a captura, foi utilizada uma peneira (50 x 50 cm) com 4 mm de tamanho de malha. Os machos apresentaram comprimento total variando de 3,5 a 4,7 cm (média: 4,1 cm) e amplitude de massa corporal entre 0,38 a 0,94 g (média: 0,66 g). As fêmeas tinham comprimento total de 3,5 a 3,9 cm (média: 3,67 cm) e amplitude de massa corporal de 0,55 a 0,70 g (média: 0,64). Considerando que a área de coleta é um dos mais importantes sítios arqueológicos do Brasil, essa espécie endêmica da Caatinga demonstra a importância da conservação do meio ambiente e serve para apoiar a preservação da área atual que não é reconhecida e registrada como patrimônio cultural e ambiental. Palavras-chave: Carste, Formação Jandaíra, Caatinga, poças temporárias, Cynolebiidae, Hypsolebias antenori

Diversity and conservation of fishes from karstic areas of the Jandaíra Formation in the Brazilian semiarid

Few studies have focused on non-troglomorphic fishes occurring in Brazilian caves, especially those in the Caatinga region. The present study is the first survey of fishes from karstic areas of the Jandaíra Formation in Rio Grande do Norte State, northeastern Brazil. This region is characterized by a high concentration of caves and a rich subterranean biodiversity, especially of troglobitic invertebrates, but remains considered a gap on the knowledge of the subterranean ichthyofauna in Brazil. Four field expeditions were carried out covering two dry and two rainy seasons, in 2018 and 2019, in 23 localities in small river basins along the western part of the Jandaíra Formation. A total of 829 fish specimens, none of them troglomorphic, was captured and identified as belonging to 25 species of 12 families and five orders. Amongst them, four species are endemic of the Mid-Northeastern Caatinga ecoregion, and two non-native species were recorded. Habitats were classified into three categories: superficial, associated to cave, and cave. Although no troglomorphic fish species was found in this study, we recorded 64.1% of the Apodi-Mossoró river ichthyofauna occurring in caves or associated to caves, corroborating the hypothesis that part of the ichthyofauna exploits these environments as a refuge during the dry season. In addition, we suggest conservation policies for the maintenance of subterranean and aquatic semiarid ecosystems in the Jandaira formation, which is currently under threat due to anthropogenic activities, such as mining and deforestation

Ichthyofauna of Trairí river basin, Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil: a century after the study of the naturalist Edwin Starks in the Papari lagoon

Fishes from the coastal basins of the Mid-Northeastern Caatinga ecoregion (MNCE) were first sampled by the Stanford expedition at the beginning of the 20th century, and published by Edwin C. Starks in 1913. This material included specimens from the Papary lake (= Papari lagoon) in the lower portion of the Trairí river basin, draining towards the eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte State. In 1941, Henry Fowler provided a broad taxonomic study of the freshwater fishes from northeastern Brazil, including material from the Papari lagoon, besides describing four species assigned to this locality. However, these previous surveys focused only in the lower portion of the Trairí river basin and might be incomplete. Given this framework, the present study aimed at perform a wide ichthyofaunal inventory of Trairí river basin and compared with previously surveys performed in the regions. In 2013 and 2014, four expeditions along the whole basin, including the Papari lagoon itself, resulted in 28 species of fishes belonging to 17 families and seven orders. At Papari lagoon area 16 species were registered whereas 26 and 18 species were recorded by Starks and Fowler’s studies, respectively. Considering all records, 50 species were documented in the basin with 14 (28%) new records, including Serrapinnus potiguar, whose distribution was extended to the south. Two species described by Fowler, Pimelodella papariae and Pseudancistrus papariae, were not found in this study or in any fish collection, and are only known from their type-material. These two species can be naturally rare, locally extinct, or there were inaccuracies in their type-locality. However, species of these genera are only found in larger basins of the MNCE, which drains to the north, corroborating the latter assumption. Although not being a definitive list, the recent extensive fish surveys conducted in the MNCE’s coastal basins are helping to elucidate species’ geographic distribution and little knowing taxonomic issues

Ictiofauna de Água Doce da Bacia do Rio Parnaíba

The Parnaíba River is the longest river in Northeast Brazil, with its drainage extending completely inside this region. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the Brazilian Northeast Region, running predominantly in the area of Caatinga on the east (with intermittent drainages associated to this type of environment), and partly extending in the Cerrado region on the west; the river is 1400 km long with its hydrographic basin occupying an area of 344,112 km2 (3.9% of Brazilian territory) and draining almost the entire state of Piauí (99%), part of Maranhão state (19%) and Ceará state (10%). The objective of this project was to describe the diversity of freshwater fishes of the Parnaíba river basin by: conducting a comprehensive ichthyofaunal inventory of the basin;; the description of possible new species identified in the survey; the study of the composition, diversity, richness and abundance of fish fauna through the High, Medium and Low portions of main course Parnaíba River, and the evaluation of their relationships with hydrologic disturbances of the environment; the record of the presence of rare species, in order to contribute to the development of conservation policies for the sustainability of aquatic biota in the region; the development of a handbook on the fish fauna of the Parnaíba river basin. The sampling design of this project was based on the establishment of (1) fixed points for seasonal collection (dry and wet season, two years) in three portions of the main course of Parnaíba River, called Regular Points (nine groups of three points, totaling 27 sites), (2) "Aquarap" protocol collections which covered the entire basin and (3) carefully critical analysis of the information on fish fauna registered in the literature as occurring in the basin. The collection effort amounted to 244 surveyed sampling sites along the basin. Samples were collected along the years 2008 to 2011. Fish were collected with the use of trawl nets, cast nets, gill nets and dip nets; only the first two fishing gears were used in Regular Points. As a result, was recorded 143 species of freshwater fish in the Parnaíba river basin, distributed in 101 genera, 33 families and 11 orders. Among these species, 23 are new records for the basin, 25 are undescribed species, eight were recorded only from the literature (not collected in this study) and seven are exotic species. The recorded number of 143 species surpasses in more than 40 the previous assumptions on the richness of freshwater fishes of the Parnaíba river basin, reported in literature. Fifty endemic species were recorded, corresponding to 36.8% of the 136 native species recorded in the present study, this number representing an increase of 30 species related to the largest number proposed by previous authors. From these 136 native species, 41 (30.1%) were shared with the Amazon basin, 11 (8.1%) with the Middle- Eastern Northeast Region (Nordeste Médio-Oriental), and other 11 (8.1%) with the San Francisco basin. These data suggest that the fish fauna of the Parnaíba river basin, based on similarity of species, is closer to that of the Amazon basin than to the fish fauna from other basins or groups of basins analyzed. The survey conducted along the Regular Points on High, Medium and Low showed that: the High portion was that with the highest abundance was recorded, followed by Lower portion and, finally, by the Middle one; collections during wet season resulted in greater abundance; also in higher average of richness and diversity of species in all the three portions of the basin were recorded during this season; when considered the average of richness and diversity, the Lower portion was the that with the high average of richness, followed by the Upper and Middle portions; diversity did not follow the pattern of richness due to the number of rare species in the three portions of the river, the low portion recorded as that of high diversity.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPqO rio Parnaíba é o maior rio do Nordeste brasileiro, com sua drenagem se estendendo completamente nesta região. É um dos poucos rios perenes do Nordeste, se encontra sob domínio predominante de Caatinga, (com drenagens intermitentes associadas a este tipo de ambiente), e parte estendendo-se em região de Cerrado; possui uma extensão de 1.400 km, com sua bacia hidrografia ocupando uma área de 344.112 km2 (3,9% do território nacional) e drenando quase a totalidade do estado do Piauí (99%), parte do Maranhão (19%) e Ceará (10%). O objetivo deste projeto foi o de descrever a diversidade da ictiofauna de água doce da bacia do rio Parnaíba através: da realização de um amplo inventário ictiofaunístico da bacia; da descrição de possíveis novas espécies detectadas no levantamento; do estudo da composição, diversidade, riqueza e abundância de espécies das porções Alta, Média e Baixa do curso principal do rio Parnaíba, e da avaliação de suas relações com perturbações hidrológicas do ambiente; do registro da presença de espécies raras, de forma a contribuir para a elaboração de uma política de conservação visando a sustentabilidade da biota aquática da região; da elaboração de um manual sobre a ictiofauna da bacia do rio Parnaíba. O desenho amostral deste projeto baseou-se no estabelecimento de (1) pontos fixos de coleta sazonal (seca e cheia, dois anos de coleta) nas três porções do curso principal do rio Parnaíba, denominados Pontos Regulares (nove grupos de três, totalizando 27 pontos de coleta), (2) coletas do tipo “AquaRap”, que cobriram toda a bacia e (3) análise criteriosa da ictiofauna citada na literatura como ocorrente na bacia. O esforço de coleta somou 244 pontos visitados ao longo da bacia. As coletas foram realizadas entre os anos de 2008 e 2011. Os peixes foram coletados com o uso de redes de arrasto, tarrafas, esperas e puçás, sendo apenas os dois primeiros apetrechos utilizados na coletas dos pontos regulares. Como resultado, foram registradas 143 espécies de peixes de água doce na bacia do rio Parnaíba, distribuídas em 101 gêneros, 33 famílias e 11 ordens. Deste número de espécies, 23 são novos registros na bacia, 25 são espécies não descritas, oito têm registro apenas na literatura (não tendo sido coletadas no presente trabalho) e sete são espécies introduzidas. O número de 143 espécies supera em mais de 40 a suposição do grau de riqueza da ictiofauna de água doce da bacia do rio Parnaíba, registrada na literatura. Cinquenta espécies endêmicas foram registradas, representando 36,8% do total de 136 espécies nativas diagnosticadas no presente trabalho; este número corresponde a um aumento de 30 espécies em relação ao maior número proposto por autores prévios. Dessas 136 espécies autoctones, 41 (30,1%) são comuns com a bacia Amazônica, 11 (8,1%) com o Nordeste Médio- Oriental, e outras 11 (8,1%) com a bacia do São Francisco. Estes dados sugerem que a ictiofauna da bacia do rio Parnaíba, com base na similaridade de espécies, é mais próxima daquela da bacia Amazônica que de outras bacias ou grupos de bacias analisadas. O resultado das amostragens realizadas nos Pontos Regulares ao longo das porções Alta, Média e Baixa mostrou que: a porção Alta foi aquela com maior abundância, seguida pela porção Baixa e, por ultimo, pela Média; as coletas de cheia resultaram em maior abundância; também em maior média de riqueza e diversidade de espécies nas três porções da bacia; quando relacionadas a média de riqueza e a diversidade, a porção Baixa foi a de maior riqueza, seguida das porções Alta e Média; a diversidade não seguiu o padrão da riqueza devido à quantidade de espécies raras por porção, sendo a porção Baixa a de maior diversidade

Ichthyofauna of the Parna\uedba river Basin, Northeastern Brazil

The Parnaíba River is the largest hydrographic basin with its limits entirely within the northeastern region of Brazil. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the Brazilian Northeastern Region, running predominantly in the area of Caatinga on the eastern portion (with intermittent drainages associated to this type of environment), and partly extending into the Cerrado region on the western portion. The objective of this study was to describe the diversity of freshwater fishes of the Parnaíba River basin by conducting a comprehensive ichthyofauna inventory of the basin. The sampling design of this study was based on the placement of (1) Fixed Sites for seasonal collection (dry and wet season, two years) in the three portions of the main course of the Parnaíba River, and (2) “Aquarap” protocol collections which covered the entire basin. The collection effort consisted of 244 sampling sites surveyed along the entire basin between the years 2004 and 2011. Fish were collected with the use of seines, cast nets, gill nets and dip nets; only the first two fishing gears were used in Fixed Sites. As a result, 146 species of freshwater fish were recorded in the Parnaíba River basin, distributed in 103 genera, 36 families and 11 orders. The registered endemism reached a total of 54 species

Redescription of Hypostomus johnii, a senior synonym of Hypostomus eptingi (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Hypostomus johnii (Steindachner) was described from the rio Parnaíba basin in the state of Piauí and the rio São Francisco basin in the state of Bahia. Despite the good quality of the original description of H. johnii, it does not currently allow its distinction from congeners. Thus, H. johnii is redescribed based on the analysis of the types and several recently collected specimens. Recent collecting efforts of the rios Parnaíba and São Francisco basins resulted in specimens only being found in the rio Parnaíba basin. This raises doubts about whether H. johnii occurs in the rio São Francisco basin. The species is distinguished from its congeners by having a high number of teeth on the premaxilla and dentary (between 60-115); small to moderate-sized dark spots with a light background; absence of keels on flanks; and abdominal plates more evident on laterals. A lectotype of H. johnii is designated herein and H. eptingi is considered a junior synonym of H. johnii

Phenacorhamdia cabocla, a new heptapterid from the Parnaíba River basin, Northeastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae)

Rocha, Yuri Gomes Ponce De Carvalho, Ramos, Telton Pedro Anselmo, Ramos, Robson Tamar Da Costa (2018): Phenacorhamdia cabocla, a new heptapterid from the Parnaíba River basin, Northeastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae). Zootaxa 4402 (2): 353-362, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4402.2.

Ichthyofauna of the Gurgueia River, Parnaíba River basin, northeastern Brazil

The Gurgueia River in southern Piauí state, Brazil, is the largest affluent on the right margin of the Parnaíba River basin. This study aimed to inventory the Gurgueia River ichthyofauna, and contribute to the knowledge of fish diversity in Northeastern Brazil. We sampled 71 locations throughout the Gurgueia sub-basin between 2006 and 2014, which resulted in 90 fish species representing 67 genera, 26 families and six orders, including two non-native species. Six species are newly recorded for the Parnaíba basin (Hasemania nana, Hemigrammus brevis, H. guyanensis, H. ora, Corydoras sp. and Cetopsorhamdia sp.), increasing its freshwater ichthyofauna to 152 species. The Gurgueia River contains 59.2% of the ichthyofauna known for the Parnaíba basin, and can be used as a reference point for the establishment of priority areas for the conservation of the freshwater fish fauna of the Brazilian Northeast