The Amazon and Orinoco basins in northern South America are home to the highest concentration of freshwater fish species on earth, with more than 3,000 species allotted to 564 genera. Amazonian fishes include piranhas, electric eels, freshwater stingrays, a myriad of beautiful small-bodied tetras and catfishes, and the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world, the pirarucu. Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas provides descriptions and identification keys for all the known genera of fishes that inhabit Greater Amazonia, a vast and still mostly remote region of tropical rainforests, seasonally flooded savannas, and meandering lowland rivers.

The guide's contributors include more than fifty expert scientists. They summarize the current state of knowledge on the taxonomy, species richness, and ecology of these fish groups, and provide references to relevant literature for species-level identifications. This richly illustrated guide contains 700 detailed drawings, 190 color photos, and 500 distribution maps, which cover all genera. An extensive and illustrated glossary helps readers with the identification keys.

The first complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas, this comprehensive guide is essential for anyone interested in the freshwater life inhabiting this part of the world.

• First complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
• Contributors include more than fifty experts
• Identification keys and distribution maps for all genera
• 190 stunning color photos
• 700 detailed line drawings
• Extensive and illustrated glossary

Autorentext

Peter van der Sleen is a postdoctoral fellow at the Marine Science Institute of the University of Texas, Austin. James S. Albert is professor of biology at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. He is the coeditor of Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes.

Inhalt

Foreword by Michael J Goulding 7
Preface by Luiz R Malabarba 8
Acknowledgments 9
Contributors 11
General Introduction 13
Evolutionary History of Amazonian Fishes 14
Amazonian Fish Diversity 15
Amazonian Fish Ecology 17
Conservation of Amazonian Fishes 22
Further Reading 22
How to Use This Book 23
Concept 23
Structure 23
Using Taxonomic Keys 23
The Genus Accounts 23
Distribution Maps 24
Drawings 24
Photographic Plates 24
Limitations of This Book 25
Identification Key to Fish Families 26
Photographic Guide to Fish Families 35
The Fish Families 69
Carcharhiniformes
Carcharhinidae-Requiem Sharks 69
Pristiformes
Pristidae-Sawfishes or Carpenter Sharks 69
Myliobatiformes
Potamotrygonidae-River Stingrays 70
Lepidosireniformes
Lepidosirenidae-South American Lungfish 72
Anguilliformes
Ophichthidae-Snake Eels 73
Osteoglossiformes
Arapaimidae-Bonytongues 73
Osteoglossidae-Arowanas 74
Clupeiformes
Clupeidae-Herrings 74
Engraulidae-Anchovies 75
Pristigasteridae-Longfin Herrings 79
Characiformes
Acestrorhynchidae-Freshwater Barracudas 81
Anostomidae-Toothed Headstanders 82
Bryconidae-Dorados or Jaw Characins 90
Chalceidae-Tucanfishes 91
Characidae-Tetras and Relatives 92
Aphyocharacinae-Bloodfin Tetras 93
Aphyoditeinae-Aphyoditeine Tetras 97
Characinae-Characine Tetras 102
Cheirodontinae-Cheirodontine Tetras 106
Heterocharacinae-Heterocharacine Tetras 110
Stevardiinae-Stevardiine Tetras 113
Characidae incertae sedis Including Subfamilies Tetragonopterinae and Stethaprioninae 128
Chilodontidae-Headstanders 141
Crenuchidae-South American Darters 142
Ctenoluciidae-Pike-characins 148
Curimatidae-Toothless Characins 148
Cynodontidae-Dogtooth Characiforms 154
Erythrinidae-Wolf-fishes and Yarrows 156
Gasteropelecidae-Freshwater Hatchetfishes 158
Hemiodontidae-Halftooths 161
Iguanodectidae-Iguanodectid
Characiforms 163
Lebiasinidae-Pencilfishes 165
Parodontidae-Scrapetooths 169
Prochilodontidae-Flannel Mouth Characiforms 170
Serrasalmidae-Piranhas and Pacus 172
Triportheidae-Elongate Hatchetfishes and Relatives 196
Siluriformes
Ariidae-Sea Catfishes 198
Aspredinidae-Banjo Catfishes 202
Astroblepidae-Andean Hillstream or Climbing Catfishes 207
Auchenipteridae-Driftwood Catfishes 208
Callichthyidae-Callichthyid Armored Catfishes 216
Cetopsidae-Whale Catfishes 220
Doradidae-Thorny Catfishes 222
Heptapteridae-Three-barbeled Catfishes 233
Loricariidae-Suckermouth Armored Catfishes 253
Hypoptopomatinae-Otos and Relatives 254
Hypostominae-Plecos and Relatives 259
Lithogeninae-Climbing Armored Catfishes 286
Loricariinae-Loricariine Armored Catfishes 287
Rhinelepinae-Rhinelepine Plecos 298
Pimelodidae-Long-whiskered Catfishes 299
Pseudopimelodidae-Bumblebee
Catfishes, Dwarf-marbled Catfishes 308
Scoloplacidae-Spiny Dwarf Catfishes 310
Trichomycteridae-Pencil Catfishes, Torrent Catfishes, and Parasitic Catfishes (Candirús) 311
Siluriform Phreatobius incertae sedis 322
Gymnotiformes
Apteronotidae-Ghost Knifefishes 322
Gymnotidae-Electric Eel and Banded Knifefishes 330
Hypopomidae-Grass Knifefishes 334
Rhamphichthyidae-Painted Knifefishes, Sand Knifefishes, and Trumpet Knifefishes 337
Sternopygidae-Glass Knifefishes, Rattail Knifefishes 341
Cyprinodontiformes
Anablepidae-Four-eyed Fishes 345
Cyprinodontidae-Pupfishes 346
Poeciliidae-Livebearers 346
Rivulidae-Rivuline Killifishes 350
Perciformes
Cichlidae-Cichlids 359
Polycentridae-New World Leaf-Fishes 385
Sciaenidae-Drums or Croakers 386
Gobiiformes
Eleotridae-Sleepers 388
Gobiidae-Gobies 392
Batrachoidiformes
Batrachoididae-Toadfishes 396
Beloniformes
Belonidae-Needlefishes 397
Hemirhamphidae-Halfbeaks 398
Synbranchiformes
Synbranchidae-Swamp Eels 399
Syngnathiformes
Syngnathidae-Pipefishes 399
Pleuronectiformes
Achiridae-American Soles 400
Tetraodontiformes
Tetraodontidae-Pufferfishes 402
Glossary of Technical Terms 403
Literature Cited 413
Photo Credits 459
Index 460