Abstract
The rio Ivaí flows through the left margin of the upper rio Paraná basin with 798 km of extension, being one of its largest tributaries. In this study, we analyzed 586 specimens of Hypostomus Lacépède, 1803 from the rio Ivaí basin deposited in the Coleção de Peixes do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (NUP) and Coleção Ictiológica do Grupo de Pesquisas em Limnologia e Recursos Pesqueiros (CIG). Herein, 14 species of Hypostomus were recorded from the rio Ivaí basin (10 already described and 4 possible new). The most representative species was H. ancistroides, corresponding to 23.5% of all the specimens, followed by Hypostomus sp. 3, with 15.2%, and Hypostomus sp. 2, with 13.8%. Considering Hypostomus, this study suggests that the rio Ivaí has high species richness compared with adjacent basins, such as rio Paranapanema, rio Tibagi, rio Piquiri and rio Iguaçu. Knowing the difficulties founded by many ichthyologists and researchers in identifying species within this genus, we also present here an identification key for its species present in the rio Ivaí basin.
Highlights
The rio Ivaí is the largest river that runs entirely through the Paraná state, in southeastern Brazil, and it is one of the tributaries that contributes most to the rio Paraná basin (Parolin et al 2010)
Considering Hypostomus, this study suggests that the rio Ivaí has high species richness compared with adjacent basins, such as rio Paranapanema, rio Tibagi, rio Piquiri and rio Iguaçu
Hypostomus sp. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are possible new species, and they are currently being analyzed for description (Dias and Zawadzki in prep.)
Summary
The rio Ivaí is the largest river that runs entirely through the Paraná state, in southeastern Brazil, and it is one of the tributaries that contributes most to the rio Paraná basin (Parolin et al 2010). The taxonomy of most species of the genus is usually difficult due to old type materials, poor morphological descriptions and the great morphological variation found in local populations, especially regarding the widely distributed species. Another obstacle encountered by researchers to correctly identify species of Hypostomus is the presence of several cryptic species
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