Checklist of the Ichthyofauna from Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The freshwater fishes of Mato Grosso do Sul state are distributed in two Prata basin sub-basins, Paraguay and Upper Paraná. The species list for that state was compiled based on Collection records, literature and consultation with other ichthyologists. The list includes 358 species, belonging to eleven orders and 43 families. For the Paraguay basin, 255 species were listed; 201 were registered in the Upper Paraná basin. At least 100 species are present in the two watersheds. Of those, 49 species are indigenous to the two basins. Among the other shared species, three were introduced into both basins and 45 are native to the Paraguay and/or Middle Parana basins and were intentionally or inadvertently introduced into the Upper Paraná basin. Nearly one third of the species registered in the Upper Parana basin (64), in Mato Grosso do Sul were introduced, whereas introductions in the Paraguay basin correspond to 1.2% of the species listed. The number of species presented in this paper is considered to be low, representing the still incomplete knowledge, specially of the headwater regions, but also of the lowlands of the Pantanal. Threats to this ichthyofauna and aspects of its conservation status are also discussed.

KEYWORDS
Paraguay River basin; upper Parana River basin; fish; species list; Biota-MS Program