Diversity of Characidium (Crenuchidae: Characiformes: Ostariophysi) in the Upper Paraná River system

• Grant number: 05/00975-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2005
• End date: January 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Langeani Neto
• Grantee: Luiz Gustavo Gorgatto da Silveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The order Characiformes is one of the most diverse group of freshwater fishes; as a consequence, phylogenetic relationships remain uncertain among various of its subgroups. A recent proposed composition for Crenuchidae, includes Characidiinae, a monophyletic assemblage of 47 valid species, known as the South American jackknifes. Inside the subfamily, Characidium is the most diverse genus, with many undescribed species. Because of that its expected the number of species will rise significantly within near future. In present case, recent expeditions in streams of the Rio Paranaíba and Rio Tietê captured some specimens distinct from species referred to the upper Paraná. Therefore, this project includes a taxonomic analysis of the genus in the system, involving morphological characters current used in the recent literature, comparisons with species referred to this and to neighbor drainages, description of new species and diagnoses for other species already described for the area. (AU)