Fish fauna of the River Engano in the counties of Irani, Ipumirim and Itá in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the species from the fish assemblage of the River Engano (SC) and to determine the attributes (richness and diversity) of the fauna. Four samples were taken on a bimonthly trawl between the months of April and November of 2007 at sampling points distributed along the three cities where the river runs, up to its arrival in Uruguay. The three sampling points were located in the municipalities of Irani, Ipumirim and Itá. A total of 673 specimens of fish were collected, falling into six genera and 26 species that were identifi ed taxonomically. The resulting collection, based in Concordia (SC) and deposited in the laboratory of zoology at the University of Contestado (UNC), is currently available to gradueted and undergraduate students, seeking thereby to contribute to local knowledge and preservation of fish fauna of the Alto Uruguay River.

Keywords

• fish diversity
• taxonomic identification
• west of Santa Catarina