Donald Charles TaphornRoyal Ontario Museum · Ichthyology
Donald Charles Taphorn
PhD
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266
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Introduction
Freshwater Fishes of Guyana
Additional affiliations
January 1978 - June 2007
September 1973 - June 1976
January 2010 - February 2021
Publications
Publications (266)
Based on historical and museum records and recent extensive collecting we compiled a checklist of 77 fish species reported from the streams of Trinidad and Tobago. A key with photographs is provided to aid in identifications, as well as brief notes on habitat, diet, reproduction, maximum size, local common names and distribution.
Biodiversity conservation often is aimed at areas of high species richness and endemism. Our understanding of freshwater fish diversity in the Neotropics is biased by lack of exploration within mountainous regions that historically have been difficult to access. These regions are particularly likely to contain high species endemism. The upper Mazar...
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 Carib...
We examined 407 specimens and images of Hemibrycon jelskii1 and H. huambonicus2 (31 types and 376 non-types) and analyzed them using four analytical approaches: (i) traditional morphometry, (ii) morpho-geometric analysis, (iii) comparison of meristics (scales and fin rays), and (iv) comparison of color and pigment patterns. Our study determined tha...
We report the results of a taxonomic revision of the species of Bryconamericus from the Amazon River Basin of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and the Pacific coastal rivers of Peru. Based on morphological analyses, four valid species are recognized: B. bolivianus Pearson 1924, B. osgoodi Eigenmann & Allen 1942, B. pachacuti Eigenmann 1927 and B. phoenicopte...
Based on ten specimens, using morphometric, meristic and osteological characters, Astyanax leoni n. sp. is described from the upper Madre de Dios River drainage, Amazon River Basin of Peru. A. leoni n. sp. is a member of the Astyanax orthodus species group and is distinguished (except from A. multidens, A. villwocki, and A. gandhiae) in having an i...
In Astyanax (Poecilurichthys), we recognize six species-groups defined by the distribution of melanophores on the body: 1. bimaculatus; 2. rupununi; 3. abramis: 4. orthodus; 5. asuncionensis; and 6. anterior, which are named for a representative species. Astyanax brevoortii1 is redescribed using specimens from Trinidad (including types). This speci...
Deep Water fishes of the Orinoco River temporal and spatial variation
To provide baseline life history information for some of the many small fishes found in blackwater forest streams in the Colombian Amazon near the town of Leticia, we describe trophic aspects of five species of fishes. Collections were made in April (high water), July (falling water) and November (rising water) of 1999. Diverse fishing gear was use...
In Astyanax (Poecilurichthys), we recognize six species-groups defined by the distribution of melanophores on the body: 1. bimaculatus; 2. rupununi; 3. abramis: 4. orthodus; 5. asuncionensis; and 6. anterior, which are named for a representative species. Astyanax brevoortii1 is redescribed using specimens from Trinidad (including types). This speci...
El presente trabajo es el fruto de un esfuerzo interinstitucional, e
interdisciplinario, realizado en el año 1996, en el cual han participado profesionales
pertenecientes al Consejo Nacional de Fronteras (CNF), Corporación Venezolana del
Suroeste (CVS), Ministerio de Agricultura y Cría (MAC), Ministerio de Sanidad y
Asistencia Social (MSAS), Instit...
Based on morphological and molecular analysis of Astronotus species, a new species is described from the Orinoco River and Gulf of Paria basins in Venezuela and Colombia. Morphologically, it differs from As-tronotus crassipinnis and Astronotus ocellatus in pre-orbital depth, caudal peduncle depth, head width, and caudal peduncle length, with signif...
In South America, mercury contamination due to gold mining operations is a threat to both biodiversity and human health. We examined mercury (Hg) concentrations in fishes that constitute important subsistence fisheries from mined and non-mined tributaries in the middle Mazaruni River, Guyana. Mercury concentrations and trophic food web structure (b...
As a result of collections made during the dry seasons of 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, 247 species of fish, grouped in 14 orders and 47 families were identified. Six new records for Colombia stand out: Adontosternarchus sachsi, Trachydoras gepharti, Megalodoras guayoensis, Hypostomus rhantos, Gnatholebias zonatus and Plagioscion auratus,...
Characidium chancoense new species, is described from the transandean upper Río Cauca drainage in Colombia. It can be distinguished from all congeners by its pigmentation pattern that consists of 7-12 vertical bars, most of which are cuneate-shaped with the vertex ending on or just below the lateral-line scale series, except for the last 1-4, which...
A new species of peacock bass, Cichla cataractae, is distinguished from all congeners by molecular evidence and
unique patterns of adult and juvenile pigmentation. Juveniles (<150 mm SL) have sides of body dominated by a series of three
conspicuous dark blotches with the one below soft dorsal fin largest, attenuated posteriorly (long teardrop shape...
Hyphessobrycon chiribiquete n. sp. is described from the Río Caquetá drainage in Colombia and the Río Ucayali drainage in Peru, western Amazon. The new species is diagnosed from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a conspicuous narrow midlateral stripe, starting on the sides of the body behind the opercle near the later...
Effects of the invasive species Poecilia gillii (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) on Pseudopoecilia fria in coastal rivers of the Choco region, Ecuador. One of the causes contributing to the decrease of biodiversity is the introduction of exotic species that often end up being invasive, and end up competing with local species. This competition is n...
The Orinoco Andes and northwestern Guiana Shield (Essequibo, Orinoco, Branco, and upper Negro) were found to contain 11 species of Ancistrus, six of which are new. We additionally examine A. brevifilis from the Río Tuy of Venezuela and A. trinitatis from the island of Trinidad. The species in the region can be broken up into dorsoventrally flattene...
We investigated spatial and seasonal variation of fish assemblages of Caño Maraca, a creek in Venezuela’s Western Llanos, a region with strong wet-dry seasonality. Fishes were surveyed over a 19-year period at three sites along the longitudinal gradient: a headwater site with a narrow channel, a middle site with shallow channels traversing a season...
Hemibrycon guejarensis, new species, is described from the Güejar River, La Macarena mountain range, upper Guaviare River drainage, Colombia. The new species is distinguished from most cis-Andean congeners (H. jabonero Lake Maracaibo and adjacent Caribbean drainages, H. metae which is found in the Guavio River, some Orinoco and Caribbean River drai...
Hemibrycon guejarensis, new species, is described from the Güejar River, La Macarena mountain range , upper Guaviare River drainage, Colombia. The new species is distinguished from most cis-Andean congeners (H. jabonero Lake Maracaibo and adjacent Caribbean drainages, H. metae which is found in the Guavio River, some Orinoco and Caribbean River dra...
This report describes the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of 22 freshwater fish species from freshwater western Caribbean drainages in Venezuela. Fishes were collected in dry seasons between 2005 and 2007 with standardized electrofishing from coastal streams of Aroa, Yaracuy and Urama drainages. Results include the first LWR information for ten...
The book reports a list of 53 species of fish belonging to fourteen families, a number that increased in relation to previous records. Important records are given for Hemibrycon brevispini, Hemibrycon palomae, Hemibrycon quindos, Hyphessobrycon ocasoensis, taxa described by the authors (CRV, RIRC & DCT), all endemic to the La Vieja River system, Al...
A new species of Creagrutus is described from several localities in the upper Río Magdalena drainage, Colombia. Creagrutus dulima n. sp. differs from all trans-Andean congeners by the combination of a relatively small orbital diameter, the shape and position of hooks on the pelvic-fin rays, in having the third infraorbital not in contact with the p...
The Astyanax orthodus species-group includes nine species: Astyanax boliviensis sp. nov., A. bopiensis nom. nov., A. embera sp. nov., A. gandhiae sp. nov., A. moorii comb. nov., A. orthodus, A. superbus, A. villwocki and A. yariguies comb. nov. The group is diagnosed by the presence of a series of pinnate-shaped marks (chevrons) located along the l...
Chiribiquete Mountains raise in the Northwestern section of the Colombian Amazon region and are located within the Chiribiquete National Park (PNNSCh, in Spanish). Their runoff waters drain towards the basin of the Vaupes, Apaporis, and Caqueta rivers. Ichthyofauna in this area was unknown, since ichthyological explorations had not been performed b...
A comprehensive list of the types deposited in the collection of the Laboratory of Ichthyology of the University
of Quindío, Armenia, Colombia (IUQ) was prepared. Type specimens for 63 species of freshwater bony fishes
are deposited in IUQ, including 34 holotypes and 63 lots of paratypes. The specimens were verified and
additional information is pr...
Hyphessobrycon klausanni sp. n. is described from small drainages of the upper Guaviare River (Orinoco River Basin) in Colombia. It differs from all congeners by having a wide, conspicuous, dark lateral stripe extending from the anterior margin of the eye across the body and continued through the middle caudal-fin rays, and that covers (vertically)...
https://www.omacha.org/component/jdownloads/finish/12-documentos-de-gestion/1126-biodiversidad-en-la-cuenca-baja-y-media-del-rio-meta?Itemid=0
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009;...
This plot is not part of the published stance but derives from it. The plot shows the number of authors by geographic region (courtesy of Dr. Diego Astua).
About 1000 freshwater fishes have been found so far in the Orinoco River Basin of Venezuela and Colombia. This high ichthyological diversity reflects the wide range of landscapes and aquatic ecosystems included in the basin. Mountain streams descend from the high Andes to become rapid-flowing foothill rivers that burst out upon vast savannah flatla...
La variabilidad genética de las especies de bagres rayados Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum y
P. tigrinum (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) que habitan en la cuenca del Orinoco (Venezuela) fue
estudiada utilizando el método de electroforesis de proteínas. Se encontraron valores altos de
variabilidad genética en comparación con otros peces de aguas dulces del N...
La variabilidad genética de las especies de bagres rayados Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum y
P. tigrinum (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) que habitan en la cuenca del Orinoco (Venezuela) fue
estudiada utilizando el método de electroforesis de proteínas. Se encontraron valores altos de
variabilidad genética en comparación con otros peces de aguas dulces del N...
Principales familias de peces de agua dulce en Venezuela, y claves para su identificación. Discrepancia entre la taxonomía tradicional basada en la morfología externa y osteología vs. la taxonomía basada en secuencias de ADN
Twenty-four sites near two camps, (one near the Kusad Mountain, and the other
in the Parabara area) in the southern Rupununi savannah region of Guyana,
were sampled between 20 October and 6 November 2013 by an international
team of researchers and local fishermen. We recorded 168 fish species (114 from
sites near Kusad Mountain, 85 from the Parabar...
A new species of Bryconamericus (Characiformes, Characidae, Stevardiinae) is described from the Pacific coast of northwestern Ecuador, South America. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the presence in males of bony hooks on the caudal fin rays (vs. absence). The different layers of pigment that constitute the humeral spots have...
A new species of Bryconamericus (Characiformes, Characidae, Stevardiinae) is described from the Pacific coast of northwestern Ecuador, South America. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the presence in males of bony hooks on the caudal fin rays (vs. absence). The different layers of pigment that constitute the humeral spots have...
Inland fisheries are vital for the livelihoods and food resources of humans worldwide but their importance is underestimated, probably because large numbers of small, local operators are involved.
Freshwater Fisheries Ecology defines what we have globally, what we are going to lose and mitigate for, and what, given the right tools, we can save. To...
Creagrutus maculosus, new species, is described from the Güejar River, La Macarena mountain range, Orinoco Basin, Colombia. It differs from congeners in having eight dark rounded spots on the sides of the body (vs. no dark rounded spots on sides of the body except in C. amoenus, C. kunturus and C. mucipu); 4-5 scale rows between the lateral line an...
A new species, Hyphessobrycon natagaima, is described from the upper Magdalena River Basin in Colombia. It differs from all other species of Hyphessobrycon with a dark lateral stripe inhabiting the Magdalena River Basin: H. poecilioides, H. proteus and H. ocasoensis, by having eight to twelve pored lateral-line scales (vs. 14-26); four scales betwe...