Estado de conocimiento de los peces dulceacuicolas de Chile

Abstract

The Chilean native freshwater ichthyofauna is composed of 11 families, 17 genera and about 44 species, including two lampreys. The Chilean biogeographic province has 81% of the species endemic, 40% of which are classified as endangered. The most abundant groups are the siluriforms (11 species), osmeriforms (9 species) and atheriniforms (7 species). Other groups represented in Chile are the cyclostomous Petromyzontiformes (2 species), and the teleostean characiforms (4 species), cyprinodontiforms (6 species), perciforms (4 species) and mugiliforms (1). The South Central area of the Chilean Province has the highest species richness, whereas the northern and southern areas are poorer in species numbers. Due to its origin, percentage of endemism and primitive characters, the ichthyological fauna of Chile has a high biogeographic and conservation value, however, there are important knowledge gaps in the systematics, distribution and biology of these freshwater fishes.