First record of the Southern Platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in coastal streams of Venezuela and implications for conservation

Douglas Rodríguez-Olarte; Críspulo Julián Marrero; Donald Charles Taphorn; Jorge Luis Coronel

doi:10.1590/S2179-975X10223

Short Research Note

First record of the Southern Platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in coastal streams of Venezuela and implications for conservation

Primeiro registro do Platyfish do Sul, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) em riachos costeiros da Venezuela e implicações para a conservação

Douglas Rodríguez-Olarte; Críspulo Julián Marrero; Donald Charles Taphorn; Jorge Luis Coronel

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X10223 Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online), vol.36, e12, 2024

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Abstract

Several fishes of the family Poeciliidae are commonly produced in ornamental aquaculture and also used for pest control, leading to their introduction in numerous countries. Many of these species exhibit tolerance and invasiveness, as exemplified by Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866). This report documents the presence of X. maculatus in a Caribbean coastal stream in Venezuela. Quizandal Creek has experienced significant human intervention in its lower drainage and channel area. In the final segment of the creek the fish were captured using hand nets and beach seines. The specimens were transported alive to the laboratory for evaluation and subsequently preserved according to standard methods and later were cataloged in the fish collection. 16 males ♂ and 8 females ♀ (16.6-29.4 mm SL. CPUCLA-3630) from the Quizandal Creek, part of the coastal drainage of the Borburata River, were analyzed. This is the first report on the occurrence of Xiphophorus maculatus in natural environments of Venezuela. These coastal streams are situated in a zoogeographic transition zone between regional freshwater ichthyofaunas that have a limited number of species, primarily secondary and amphidromous, which could be susceptible to the presence of introduced species. Xiphophorus fish demonstrate the ability to thrive in highly degraded environments, promoting their dispersion and amplifying the impact on the habitat and local fish, particularly small endemic fish, such as the Rivulidae and Poeciliidae.

Keywords

Poeciliidae, ornamental fish, invasive species, coastal rivers, environmental stressors

Resumo

Vários peixes Poeciliidae são comumente empregados na aquicultura ornamental e no controle de pragas, levando à sua introdução em vários países. Muitas dessas espécies exibem tolerância e invasividade, exemplificadas por Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866). Esta nota documenta a presença de X. maculatus em um riacho costeiro na encosta do Caribe, Venezuela. O riacho Quizandal sofreu intervenção humana significativa na drenagem inferior e na área do canal. No trecho final do riacho os peixes foram capturados com redes de mão e arrastos. Os espécimes foram transportados vivos ao laboratório para avaliação e posteriormente preservados segundos métodos padronizados para posterior catalogação na coleção de peixes. Foram analisados 16 machos ♂ e 8 fêmeas ♀ (16,6-29,4 mm SL. CPUCLA-3630) provenientes do Córrego Quizandal, associado à drenagem costeira do Rio Borburata. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de Xiphophorus maculatus em ambientes naturais da Venezuela. Estes riachos costeiros estão situados numa zona de transição zoogeográfica entre ictiofaunas regionais de água doce e apresentam um número limitado de espécies, principalmente secundárias e anfidromas, que podem ser suscetíveis à presença de espécies introduzidas. Os peixes Xiphophorus demonstram a capacidade de prosperar em ambientes altamente degradados, promovendo a sua dispersão e amplificando o impacto no habitat e nos peixes locais, particularmente pequenos peixes endêmicos, como os Rivulidae e Poeciliidae.

Palavras-chave

Poeciliidae, peixes ornamentais, espécies invasivas, rios costeiros, estressores ambientais

References

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Submitted date:
11/27/2023

Accepted date:
03/11/2024

Publication date:
04/09/2024

First record of the Southern Platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in coastal streams of Venezuela and implications for conservation

Primeiro registro do Platyfish do Sul, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866), (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) em riachos costeiros da Venezuela e implicações para a conservação

Douglas Rodríguez-Olarte; Críspulo Julián Marrero; Donald Charles Taphorn; Jorge Luis Coronel

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Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online)