Annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of continental and insular Costa Rica: additions and nomenclatural revisions

Arturo Angulo,Myrna I López,Carlos A Garita-Alvarado,William A Bussing

doi:10.15560/9.5.987

Abstract

Based on a combination of intensive literature review, electronic database searches, re-identification of museum specimens and fieldwork, we hereby provide an updated checklist of the freshwater fishes of continental and insular Costa Rica. This checklist, systematically arranged at the ordinal and familial level, includes nomenclatural revisions, distributional information, and when appropriate, cross-references on the basis of Bussing (1998). According to our results, the native Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna is composed by 250 species, divided into 119 genera, 49 families and 19 orders; increasing in 108 the number of species originally reported by Bussing (1998). By far, the vast majority of these species, according to their supposed tolerance to salinity, are peripheral (63.2%), followed by secondary freshwater fishes (23.6%); only 13.2% are primary freshwater fishes. 24 species in this checklist appear to be endemic to Costa Rica. In addition to the native fauna 8 exotic species are reported.

Highlights

Despite the relatively small continental size of CostaRica, the country has a rich freshwater fish fauna, which was originally covered by Bussing (1987; 1998)
The purpose of the following checklist is to update the known composition of the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, as well as provide revisions in nomenclature that reflect the well supported conclusions of recent studies on relationships
Field sampling at different localities in Costa Rica was performed between March 2009 and January 2013

Summary

Introduction

The country has a rich freshwater fish fauna, which was originally covered by Bussing (1987; 1998). Since these pioneer works, knowledge about the freshwater fishes of the country has continues to grow. The discovery of new species, the establishment of new inland and country records, and the numerous nomenclatural changes for previously known species, given major advances in understanding of the status and relationships of many groups, contribute to such development. The purpose of the following checklist is to update the known composition of the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, as well as provide revisions in nomenclature that reflect the well supported conclusions of recent studies on relationships

Methods

Results

Conclusion