Fish biodiversity of Colombian seas: threaten richness

Abstract

A review of the Colombian marine fish richness is made, emphasizing on those groups susceptible of extinction and on the factors threatening them. There are clear differences between the conservation level of Colombian bony and cartilaginous fishes; 41 species of elasmobranch fishes (33% of total) are threatened or close to be, but only 4% (89 species) of the total figure of bony fishes have such status. Colombian Caribbean fishes are also more severely threatened than Pacific ones, which should be related to the higher density of human population in the northern Colombian coast. The cases of the orders Carcharhiniformes (requiem sharks), Rhinopristiformes (guitarfishes, saw fishes, witch rays), Elopiformes (tarpon) and Labriformes (parrotfishes) and the family Serranidae (groupers) are discussed in detail because they are considered critical examples showing the need of urgent action, based both on intrinsic threat factors as well as on societal needs to manage the environment.