An annotated distributional checklist of the freshwater fish from Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

An annotated distributional checklist of thefreshwater fish recorded historically andrecently in Baja California Sur, Mexico, isprovided. This checklist is supported with4,857 specimens collected at freshwaterlocalities during the period of May 1991 toApril 2002, and complemented with a review ofspecimens in museums and in the literature. Thenative ichthyofauna is represented by 19species belonging to 16 genera and 12 families,with only two cases of endemism (Funduluslima and Gobiesox juniperoserrai). Thefirst occurrence of Centropomus viridisin freshwater environments of Baja Californiapeninsula is reported here. The familiesEleotridae and Mugilidae are the most diversewith 3 species each. Zoogeographically, most ofthe species are of tropical affinity(panamanian 63%, tropical amphiamerican 16%and circumtropical 5%) and of marineecological derivation (sporadic 53%,complementary 26%, vicarious 16% anddiadromous 5%). Six species are exotic in thisregion, of which Cyprinus carpio, Xiphophorus helleri and Tilapia cf. zilli are of recent introduction. The currentstatus of the endemic killifish (Funduluslima) is determined as endangered due tocompetition with Tilapia cf. zilliand other exotic fish.