Geographical distribution of Central American freshwater fishes
A cura di Miller, Robert Rush
Copeia, 1966(4):773-802 1966
" The distribution of freshwater fishes in Central America is reviewed. Major parts of the region, especially in Honduras and Nicaragua, have yet to be explored ichthyologically, and systematic revision of important groups, notably the cichlids, is long overdue. The continental area from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the Colombian border contains approximately 456 species, of which over 75% comprise the Cyprinodontidae, Poeciliidae, Cichlidae, and marine invaders (peripheral fishes); about onethird of the latter (57 species) have taken up more or less permanent residence in fresh water. There are 104 primary species in 10 families, 165 secondary forms in 6 families, and 187 peripheral species distributed among 30 families (nearly half of the latter are ariids, atherinids, gerrids, and gobies). Poeciliids and cichlids are particularly rich and diverse, together comprising 139 species. Characins are numerous only in the Panamanian region, into which they and five South American catfish families have recently penetrated. Except for gars, no North American family has reached beyond northern Guatemala. There are no non-ostariophysan primary fishes in the area.
Although our knowledge of the fish fauna approaches adequacy only in the Guatemalan and Panamanian regions, an attempt is made to delimit fish provinces. The best known, the Usumacinta assemblage of southeastern MCxico and northern Guatemala, has been a strong center of evolution. The marked differences between the fishes of this area and those of the Isthmian province, in Costa Rica and Panamii, emphasize that Middle American fishes do not comprise a coherent faunal unit. Other provinces are the impoverished Chiapas-Nicaraguan and the San Juan, the latter notable chiefly for the cichlids of the Great Lakes of Nicaragua. The highlands of southeastern México, Guatemala, and Honduras comprise an ancient land mass with a meager fish fauna in which the primitive cyprinodontid genus Profundulus has evolved.
The Middle American fauna, from which most of Panama should be excluded, is characterized by: (1) the adaptive radiation of the probably autochthonous Poeciliidae; (2) great diversification of the genus Cichlasoma, including the evolution of the derived genera Petenia, Neetroplus, and Herotilapia; (3) the likely origin and speciation of Bramocharax; (4) the occurrence of numerous freshwater species of marine origin, a development strongly influenced by (5) the paucity of primary freshwater fishes "
Classificazione: Distribuzione ed esplorazione.
Lingua: English
Reference in bibliography for species (31)
Nome sostituzioni
- Amphilophus istlanus denominato come Heros mento [p. 792].
- Amphilophus trimaculatus denominato come Cichlasoma mojarra [p. 793], Cichlasoma centrale [p. 793], Cichlasoma trimaculatum [p. 793], Cichlasoma cajali [p. 793], Cichlasoma gordonsmithi [p. 793].
- Astatheros macracanthus denominato come Cichlasoma (amphilophus) macracanthum.
- Chiapaheros grammodes denominato come Cichlasoma sp [p. 145].
- Cincelichthys pearsei denominato come Cichlasoma (Herichthys) pearsei.
- Cribroheros robertsoni denominato come Cichlasoma (Amphilophus) robertsoni.
- Heterophallus milleri denominato come Heterophallus sp [p. 790].
- Maskaheros regani denominato come Cichlasoma sp [p. 793].
- Millerichthys robustus denominato come Rivulus sp [p. 788].
- Oscura heterospila denominato come Cichlasoma (Theraps) heterospilum.
- Paraneetroplus bulleri denominato come Cichlasoma bulleri.
- Pimephales promelas denominato come Heterophallus sp [p. 790], Cichlasoma synspilum [p. 1105].
- Pseudoxiphophorus bimaculatus denominato come Heterandria bimaculata [p. 790].
- Thorichthys pasionis denominato come Cichlasoma (Thorichthys) pasionis.
- Vieja zonata denominato come Cichlasoma guttulatum [p. 791].
Miller, Robert Rush. 1966. "Geographical distribution of Central American freshwater fishes". Copeia. 1966(4):773-802 (ffm01105) (riassunto)