The larvae distribution of Mylossoma aureum and M. duriventre were analyzed on the Solimões river comprising 60 km long, during two years (19951996). Distributions between habitats and in the vertical strata were considered. The main habitats considered were cutting banks, filling banks, mouth lake channels and lake channels. The distribution was not homogeneous between habitats. The lowest densities were found in the filling banks and the highest in the cutting banks and mouth of lake channels. Lake channels present higher larval abundance than filling banks. This pattern seems to be related to hydrodynamics processes associated with the spawning and larval behavior of the two species. In the most habitats M. aureum was more abundant at the surface samples than the bottom samples, but M. duriventre showed the opposite vertical distribution. The vertical stratification seems to be due to swimming abilities of the larvae.
Amazon; fish; larvae; spatial distribution; Characiformes
