Trichomycterus alterus (Marini, Nichols & La Monte, 1933) and T. corduvensis Weyenberg 1877 (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae): new records from the High Andean Plateau

Abstract

New records of two Trichomycterus species are herein added to the existing checklist of catfishes living at elevations above 3,000 m in the Andes of South America. Trichomycterus alterus and T. corduvensis are recorded at 3,430 m above sea level from the High Andean Plateau (or Puna) in a stream near Antofagasta de la Sierra, Provincia de Catamarca, Argentina. Morphometric and meristic data of examined specimens are included.

nfestation of the Torrent Catfish (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) by an Exotic Crustacean (Copepoda, Lernaeidae) in Andean Mountains of Argentina

“…Whether accidental or deliberate, the introduction of exotic species is one of the major reasons for the loss of biological diversity, habitat alteration, and overexploitation of natural resources (8,(24)(25)(26). This opportunistic ectoparasite is extremely harmful and can be transmitted by water source causing infestation in the Andean basin where others endemic catfishes live (27)(28)(29). Parasitological studies are needed to determine the current status of L. cyprinacea, especially in the northwestern of Argentina.…”

First record sheds light on the distribution of the cyprinodontiform genus Jenynsia (Günther, 1866) in the High Andean Plateau

“…This landscape is dominated by non‐marine brines accumulated in sedimentary basins during Neogene, where ecological heterogeneity is expressed by an array of aquatic ecosystems that include numerous extensive salars and lagoons – such as Antofalla and Laguna Colorada – as well as geothermal springs and other high‐altitude wetlands (Alonso et al ., 1991; Benzaquen et al ., 2017). Within the entire HAP, which stretches along 1800 km from southern Perú Altiplano plain to northwestern Argentina Puna, only four native fish genera were recorded above 3 km: Astroblepus (climbing catfish), Orestias and Pseudorestias (pupfish) and Trichomycterus (pencil catfish) (Arratia et al ., 2017; Arraya et al ., 2009; Barra et al ., 2009; Cruz‐Jofré et al ., 2014; Fernández & Andreoli Bize, 2018; Fernández & Andreoli Bize, 2017; Schaefer, 2011). The Orestiini ( sensu Arratia et al ., 2017) is recognized as the sole cyprinodontiform clade found in the HAP.…”

Invasion alert: new record of the exotic Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 in the Puna Austral region, Northwestern of Argentina

“…The geological Puna region is considered as two geological sub-regions: the Puna Austral (24° to 27°S) and Puna Septentrional (24° to 22°S), being the Olacapato megafault the boundary between them Viramonte 1987, Prezzi 1999). The Puna Argentina is inhabited by a particularly diversified ichthyofauna, with at least six endemic catfishes species (Trichomycterus belensis, T. catamarcensis, T. minus, T. ramosus, T. varii, and T. yuska) (Fernandez 2013;Fernandez and Andreoli Bize 2017). However, this fauna is drastically affected by the activities associated with mineral extraction (e.g., copper, ore, and lithium) and by the tourism relative to the fishing of exotic species (e.g., rainbow trout Onchorhynchus mykiss) (Fernandez 2005;Fernandez and Andreoli Bize 2018).…”