Journal Article
The ichthyofauna of streams and lakes of Lagoa Santa Karst, Minas Gerais state, Brazil
Quintela, F.M., Teixeira, T.F. and Dos Santos Pompeu, P.
Record Number:
6237
Year:
2023
Journal:
Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment
Abstract:
Karsts are physiognomies with unique reliefs formed mainly by the dissolution of carbonate rocks.
Much of the water used for human consumption on the planet comes from karst regions. Herein
we present data obtained from an ichthyological survey conducted in lakes and streams of Lagoa
Santa Karst, located at the São Francisco river basin in southeastern Brazil. From December 2019
to March 2022, 49 random samplings were carried out at 17 points distributed in four streams
and eight lakes. A total of 1608 individuals, belonging to 44 species, 38 genera, 17 families, and
six orders were collected. When including data from previous surveys conducted in the region,
we found that the ichthyofauna of streams and lakes of Lagoa Santa Karst is composed at least by
46 species, five of these being allochtonous. Characiformes was the most representative order,
comprising 22 species. The most abundant and widely distributed species was the cichlid
Cichlasoma sanctifranciscense, accounting for 18.5% of the total abundance and being present
in 14 sampling sites. The known distributions of the gymnotiform Eingemannia besouro was
herein extended southwards.
Times Cited:
2