Ichthyofauna of streams of the Lower Paranapanema River basin, state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Several studies of small watersheds of in the Upper Paraná River basin are currently available. Howev-er, the number and extent of its tributary streams still pose a challenge to enhancing current knowledge of their ichthyofauna. This study aimed to survey the fish fauna of three streams of the Lower Paranapanema River basin, state of Paraná, Brazil (Capim, Tenente and Centenário streams). The sampling included 3,167 specimens belonging to five orders, 17 families and 56 species. The streams presented differences in species richness (Centenário Stream: 41 species; Tenente Stream: 33 species; Capim Stream: 30 species). Two species occurred at all collection sites (Astyanax bockmanni and Hypostomus ancistroides). Nine non-native species were recorded, four of them found exclusive-ly in the Centenário Stream.