Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
https://actalb.org/article/doi/10.1590/S2179-975X10223
Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
Short Research Note

First record of the Southern Platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in coastal streams of Venezuela and implications for conservation

Primeiro registro do Platyfish do Sul, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) em riachos costeiros da Venezuela e implicações para a conservação

Douglas Rodríguez-Olarte; Críspulo Julián Marrero; Donald Charles Taphorn; Jorge Luis Coronel

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X10223 Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online), vol.36, e12, 2024
PDF
Downloads: 0
Views: 552

Abstract

Several fishes of the family Poeciliidae are commonly produced in ornamental aquaculture and also used for pest control, leading to their introduction in numerous countries. Many of these species exhibit tolerance and invasiveness, as exemplified by Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866). This report documents the presence of X. maculatus in a Caribbean coastal stream in Venezuela. Quizandal Creek has experienced significant human intervention in its lower drainage and channel area. In the final segment of the creek the fish were captured using hand nets and beach seines. The specimens were transported alive to the laboratory for evaluation and subsequently preserved according to standard methods and later were cataloged in the fish collection. 16 males ♂ and 8 females ♀ (16.6-29.4 mm SL. CPUCLA-3630) from the Quizandal Creek, part of the coastal drainage of the Borburata River, were analyzed. This is the first report on the occurrence of Xiphophorus maculatus in natural environments of Venezuela. These coastal streams are situated in a zoogeographic transition zone between regional freshwater ichthyofaunas that have a limited number of species, primarily secondary and amphidromous, which could be susceptible to the presence of introduced species. Xiphophorus fish demonstrate the ability to thrive in highly degraded environments, promoting their dispersion and amplifying the impact on the habitat and local fish, particularly small endemic fish, such as the Rivulidae and Poeciliidae.

Keywords

Poeciliidae, ornamental fish, invasive species, coastal rivers, environmental stressors

Resumo

Vários peixes Poeciliidae são comumente empregados na aquicultura ornamental e no controle de pragas, levando à sua introdução em vários países. Muitas dessas espécies exibem tolerância e invasividade, exemplificadas por Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866). Esta nota documenta a presença de X. maculatus em um riacho costeiro na encosta do Caribe, Venezuela. O riacho Quizandal sofreu intervenção humana significativa na drenagem inferior e na área do canal. No trecho final do riacho os peixes foram capturados com redes de mão e arrastos. Os espécimes foram transportados vivos ao laboratório para avaliação e posteriormente preservados segundos métodos padronizados para posterior catalogação na coleção de peixes. Foram analisados 16 machos ♂ e 8 fêmeas ♀ (16,6-29,4 mm SL. CPUCLA-3630) provenientes do Córrego Quizandal, associado à drenagem costeira do Rio Borburata. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de Xiphophorus maculatus em ambientes naturais da Venezuela. Estes riachos costeiros estão situados numa zona de transição zoogeográfica entre ictiofaunas regionais de água doce e apresentam um número limitado de espécies, principalmente secundárias e anfidromas, que podem ser suscetíveis à presença de espécies introduzidas. Os peixes Xiphophorus demonstram a capacidade de prosperar em ambientes altamente degradados, promovendo a sua dispersão e amplificando o impacto no habitat e nos peixes locais, particularmente pequenos peixes endêmicos, como os Rivulidae e Poeciliidae.

Palavras-chave

Poeciliidae, peixes ornamentais, espécies invasivas, rios costeiros, estressores ambientais

References

Albornoz-Garzón, J.G., & Villa-Navarro, F.A., 2017. Range extension of the invasive fish Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in the upper Magdalena river basin, Colombia. Check List 13(3), 2149. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/13.3.2149.

Balon, E.K., 2004. About the oldest domesticates among fishes. J. Fish Biol. 65(s1), 1-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2004.00563.x.

Cossíos, E.D., 2010. Vertebrados naturalizados en el Perú: historia y estado del conocimiento. Rev. Peru. Biol. 17(2), 179-189. http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v17i2.25.

Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W.N., & van der Laan, R., eds., 2023. Catalog of fishes: genera, species, references (Online). Retrieved in 2023, September 30, from http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

Froese, R., & Pauly, D., eds., 2023. FishBase, version 10/2023 (Online). Retrieved in 2023, September 30, from www.fishbase.org

Günther, A., 1866. Catalogue of fishes in the British Museum: catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Salmonidae, Percopsidae, Galaxidae, Mormyridae, Gymnarchidae, Esocidae, Umbridae, Scombresocidae, Cyprinodontidae, in the collection of the British Museum. London: British Museum, vol. 6.

Kallman, K.D., & Kazianis, S., 2006. The genus Xiphophorus in Mexico and Central America. Zebrafish 3(3), 271-285. PMid:18377209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2006.3.271.

Meffe, G.K., & Snelson, F.F., 1989. Ecology and evolution of livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

Ojasti, J., 2001. Estrategia regional de biodiversidad para los países del trópico andino: convenio de cooperación técnica no reembolsable ATN/JF-5887-RG. Estudio sobre el estado actual de las especies exóticas: estudio nacional. Caracas: Comunidad Andina, Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo.

Ottoni, F.P., Guimarães, E.C., Santos, J.P., Brito, P.S., South, J., & Bragança, P.H.N., 2021. First record of non-native Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae) in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Check List 17(6), 1615-1622. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/17.6.1615.

Rodríguez-Olarte, D., Marrero, C.J., & Taphorn, D.C., 2018. Ríos en riesgo al Mar Caribe y al Golfo de Venezuela. In: Rodríguez-Olarte, D., ed. Ríos en riesgo de Venezuela. Barquisimeto, Lara: Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, 71-102, Colección Recursos Hidrobiológicos de Venezuela, no. 2.

Rodríguez-Olarte, D., Amaro, A., Coronel, J., & Taphorn, D.C., 2006. Integrity of fluvial fish communities is subject to environmental gradients in mountain streams, Sierra de Aroa, north Caribbean coast, Venezuela. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 4(3), 319-328. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1679-62252006000300003.

Rodríguez-Olarte, D., Taphorn, D.C., & Lobón-Cerviá, J., 2011. Do protected areas conserve neotropical freshwater fishes? A case study of a biogeographic province in Venezuela. Anim. Biodivers. Conserv. 34(2), 273-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.32800/abc.2011.34.0273.

Rodríguez-Olarte, D., Taphorn, D.C., & Lobón-Cerviá, J., 2009. Patterns of freshwater fishes of the Caribbean versant of Venezuela. Int. Rev. Hydrobiol. 94(1), 67-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200711070.

Rosen, D.E., 1960. Middle-American poeciliid fishes of the genus Xiphophorus. Bull. Fla. State Mus. Biol. Sci. 5(4), 57-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.58782/flmnh.bnrr6484.

Rosen, D.E., & Bailey, R.M., 1963. The poeciliid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes), their structure, zoogeography, and systematics. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 126, 1-176.

Salazar, S.K., Pérez, J., & Alfonsi, C., 2008. Introducción y extracción de peces ornamentales y especies de invertebrados acuáticos en Venezuela. Saber 20(2), 139-148.

Zandonà, E., Auer, S.K., Kilham, S.S., & Reznick, D.N., 2015. Contrasting population and diet influences on gut length of an omnivorous tropical fish, the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata). PLoS One 10(9), e0136079. PMid:26360601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136079.
 

Submitted date:
11/27/2023

Accepted date:
03/11/2024

Publication date:
04/09/2024

6615838aa9539555de5ce474 alb Articles
Links & Downloads
2179-975X (Electronic)
Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online) ©2024 All rights reserved.

Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online)

Share this page
Page Sections