Composition and fish species richness in piedmont streams and rivers of the Cusiana River drainage in the Colombian Orinoco River Basin

Abstract

In order to provide information on the composition and richness of fish in the Colombian Orinoco piedmont (Tauramena - Casanare), collections were made every two months (June 2012 - February 2013), and standardized (arts-length-time), for six streams and three rivers from de Cusiana River piedmont, Orinoco River Basin, Colombia. 88 species where registered, 33 found on streams and 78 on rivers, there all grouped into six orders, 24 families and 56 genera. Two orders: Characiformes (43 sp.) and Siluriformes (34 sp.) and two families: Characidae (27 sp.) and Loricariidae (15 sp.) had the highest species richness. The results obtained increase the number of species to from the Cusiana River drainage by 26 species, for a new total of 141 species; nine of these had been considered endemic to other sub-drainages. There was also a record of a new order and family (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) and a new genus Ceratobranchia. Eight of the reported species of the reported species require further confirmation because they are new records. The importance of fish diversity and human intervention that the Cusiana River drainage is suffering makes this research a tool for the conservation of this aquatic ecosystems and its fish species