NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES: A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications.

Atractus albuquerquei Cunha & Nascimento, 1983 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): first record for the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

We present the first record of Atractus albuquerquei for the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. This record extends the distribution of the species 500 km east of Emas National Park and 570 km south of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, both in the state of Goiás.

New distribution records of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Testudines: Chelidae) from southeastern Brazil, including observations on reproduction

Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei is a poorly known freshwater turtle widely distributed in central South America, where it occurs in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and probably Bolivia.  It is considered “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List and “Data Deficient” by other local lists. Herein, we present new records and data on the reproductive biology of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in southeastern Brazil. 

Anurans of the Agudos and Jaú municipalities, state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

We present a list of amphibian species from the Agudos and Jaú municipalities, a Midwest region of São Paulo state, Brazil. The 26 species recorded exhibited a strong seasonality, with their reproductive periods concentrated in the rainiest months (October and December).  Most of the species (88%) are generalists and typically associated with open areas. Although none of the species to be associated exclusively forest environments, the occurrence of some species (12%) depends on the proximity of water bodies for environments with forest formation. Thus, the presence of riparian forest fragments near water bodies is essential for some populations, as these sites are refuge for some species.