Geographical distribution of Central American freshwater fishes
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 "
Classification: Distribution and exploration, North America.
Language: English
Reference in bibliography for species (80)
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Name substitutions
- Amatitlania nigrofasciata referred to as Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum [p. 792].
- Amphilophus citrinellus referred to as Cichlasoma citrinellum [p. 792].
- Amphilophus hogaboomorum referred to as Cichlasoma hogaboomorum [p. 793].
- Amphilophus istlanus referred to as Heros mento [p. 792].
- Amphilophus labiatus referred to as Cichlasoma erythraeum [p. 792], Cichlasoma labiatum [p. 792], Cichlasoma lobochilus [p. 792].
- Amphilophus trimaculatus referred to as Cichlasoma mojarra, Cichlasoma centrale [p. 793], Cichlasoma tenue [p. 793], Cichlasoma trimaculatum [p. 793], Cichlasoma cajali [p. 793], Cichlasoma gordonsmithi [p. 793].
- Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus referred to as Aequidens coeruleopunctatus [p. 791].
- Archocentrus centrarchus referred to as Cichlasoma centrarchus [p. 792].
- Astatheros macracanthus referred to as Cichlasoma guija [p. 792], Cichlasoma heterodontum [p. 792], Cichlasoma macracanthum [p. 792].
- Astatheros margaritifer referred to as Cichlasoma margaritiferum [p. 792].
- Chiapaheros grammodes referred to as Cichlasoma sp [p. 793].
- Chuco godmanni referred to as Cichlasoma godmani [p. 791].
- Chuco intermedium referred to as Cichlasoma intermedium [p. 791].
- Chuco microphthalmus referred to as Cichlasoma microphthalmum [p. 791].
- Cincelichthys bocourti referred to as Cichlasoma bocourti [p. 792].
- Cincelichthys pearsei referred to as Cichlasoma pearsei [p. 792].
- Coptodon guineensis referred to as Cichlasoma affine [p. 793].
- Cribroheros alfari referred to as Cichlasoma alfaroi [p. 792].
- Cribroheros altifrons referred to as Cichlasoma altifrons [p. 792].
- Cribroheros longimanus referred to as Cichlasoma longimanus [p. 792], Cichlasoma popenoei [p. 792].
- Cribroheros robertsoni referred to as Cichlasoma robertsoni [p. 792].
- Cribroheros rostratus referred to as Cichlasoma rostratum [p. 792].
- Cryptoheros spilurus referred to as Cichlasoma immaculatum [p. 792], Cichlasoma spilurum [p. 792].
- Darienheros calobrensis referred to as Cichlasoma calobrense [p. 793].
- Herichthys deppii referred to as Cichlasoma geddesi [p. 792].
- Hypsophrys nicaraguensis referred to as Cichlasoma balteatum [p. 791], Cichlasoma nicaraguense [p. 791], Cichlasoma spilotum [p. 793].
- Isthmoheros tuyrensis referred to as Cichlasoma tuyrense [p. 792].
- Kronoheros umbriferus referred to as Cichlasoma umbriferum [p. 793].
- Maskaheros regani referred to as Cichlasoma sp [p. 793].
- Mayaheros urophthalmus referred to as Cichlasoma urophthalmus [p. 792].
- Oscura heterospila referred to as Cichlasoma heterospilum [p. 791].
- Panamius panamensis referred to as Neetroplus panamensis [p. 794].
- Parachromis dovii referred to as Cichlasoma dowi [p. 793].
- Parachromis friedrichsthalii referred to as Cichlasoma friedrichsthali [p. 793].
- Parachromis managuensis referred to as Cichlasoma managuense [p. 793].
- Parachromis motaguensis referred to as Cichlasoma motaguense [p. 793].
- Paraneetroplus bulleri referred to as Cichlasoma bulleri [p. 792].
- Paraneetroplus nebuliferus referred to as Cichlasoma eigenmanni [p. 791], Cichlasoma nebuliferum [p. 791].
- Rheoheros lentiginosus referred to as Cichlasoma lentiginosum [p. 791].
- Rocio octofasciata referred to as Cichlasoma octofasciatum [p. 792].
- Rocio spinosissima referred to as Cichlasoma spinosissimum [p. 792].
- Talamancaheros sieboldii referred to as Cichlasoma sieboldi [p. 791], Cichlasoma terrabae [p. 793].
- Theraps irregularis referred to as Cichlasoma irregulare [p. 791].
- Thorichthys aureus referred to as Cichlasoma aureum [p. 793].
- Thorichthys callolepis referred to as Cichlasoma callolepis [p. 793].
- Thorichthys helleri referred to as Cichlasoma champotonis [p. 793], Cichlasoma helleri [p. 793].
- Thorichthys maculipinnis referred to as Cichlasoma ellioti [p. 793].
- Thorichthys meeki referred to as Cichlasoma meeki [p. 793], Cichlasoma hyorhynchum [p. 793].
- Thorichthys pasionis referred to as Cichlasoma pasionis [p. 793].
- Tomocichla tuba referred to as Cichlasoma tuba [p. 793].
- Trichromis salvini referred to as Cichlasoma salvini [p. 793].
- Vieja bifasciata referred to as Cichlasoma bifasciatum [p. 791].
- Vieja fenestrata referred to as Cichlasoma sexfasciatum [p. 791], Cichlasoma fenestratum [p. 791], Cichlasoma gadowi [p. 791].
- Vieja guttulata referred to as Cichlasoma guttulatum [p. 791].
- Vieja maculicauda referred to as Cichlasoma maculicauda [p. 791].
- Vieja melanurus referred to as Cichlasoma synspilum [p. 791], Cichlasoma melanurum [p. 791].
Miller, Robert Rush. 1966. "Geographical distribution of Central American freshwater fishes". Copeia. 1966(4):773-802 (crc01105) (abstract)