Amazon Alive: A Decade of Discoveries 1999-2009 - WWF

More documents

Recommendations

Info

3a. 3b. 3c. 3d. 3f. 3e. 3h. 3g. 3i. 3a. Otocinclus cocama © Ingo Siedel 3b. Apistogramma baenschi © Kris Weinhold 3c. Apistogramma baenschi © Nicholas Poey 3d. Compsaraia samueli © William Crampton 3e. Hypancistrus contradens © M.H. Sabaj 3f. Brachyplatystoma capapretum © John G Lundberg 3g. Aphyocharax yekwanae © Barry Chernoff 3h. Phreatobius dracunculus © Janice Muriel Cunha 3i. Compsaraia samueli © Mark Sabaj-Pérez 16 amazon alive! I a decade of discovery 1999-2009
including at least 86 species of catfish. Of this number, approximately 35 (40%) are considered to be new to science 25 and are currently in the necessary, but laborious, process of official description, which can frequently take years. Scientists say that with so many threats facing fish in the region, it really is a case of too many fish and too little time. Serrasalmus altispinis New piranha species The Amazon contains 20 freshwater ecoregions 26 , rich areas of diversity that are globally significant. Among these flows the Uatumã river, a tributary of the Amazon in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. In 2000, among dense rainforest, a new species of piranha was discovered here 27 . The species Serrasalmus altispinis can grow to 19cm in length and is predatory. Species in the Serrasalmus genus feed themselves mainly on the fins and scales of other fish, and do not need the same musclepacked lower jaw to rip through muscle and bone. With the exception of a few species, piranhas from this genus are solitary and do not feed in shoals. In general, they will not tolerate other fish, and are very aggressive and territorial. Due to lack of research, their behaviour in the wild is largely unknown. Piranhas are split into 11 separate genera, with some fish in the Serrasalmus genus certainly among the largest, and some species capable of exceeding 50cm. Described in 2002, the species Tometes lebaili 28 and Tometes makue 29 are different from others in the genus because both are herbivorous, feeding mainly on the Podostemaceae river weed family of aquatic herbs. They are also unusual in that they are both giants, capable of reaching over 50cm in length. Both species were found in the northern Guiana shield region. According to Dr Michel Jegu, one of the scientists who discovered the species, both piranhas are endemic to the area in which they were found, and are directly and highly dependent on the persistence of the Podostemaceae aquatic herbs on which they feed. The Podostemaceae in the region is fragile, with the health of the weed depending on the frequency of the rising water, the water quality and the clearness of water for photosynthesis. Threats including hydroelectric dams, the effluents of mining, and the gathering of the weed for drug companies are increasing the pressures on this unique food source 30 . Two new species of Tometes © Jerry Plakyda © Michel Jegu amazon alive! I a decade of discovery 1999-2009 17
Page 1 and 2: Amazon Alive! A decade of discovery
Page 3 and 4: The Amazon is the largest rainfores
Page 5 and 6: Preface Francisco José Ruiz Marmol
Page 7 and 8: As part of our initiative, WWF toge
Page 9 and 10: Geography The Amazon contains the p
Page 11 and 12: 1a. © Fernando Rivadavia 1b. 1c.
Page 13 and 14: Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park ha
Page 15 and 16: at the border of Venezuela, Guyana
Page 17: © Uwe Romer Apistogramma barlowi
Page 21 and 22: 4a. 4b. 4c. 4a. Ameerega pongoensis
Page 23 and 24: 5a. 5b. © Steven Poe © Steven Poe
Page 25 and 26: ut it seems to prefer shallow and c
Page 27 and 28: 7a. 7b. © Arthur Grosset 7c. 7a. B
Page 29 and 30: The species has been listed as ‘n
Page 31 and 32: 8a. The Bolivian river dolphin © F
Page 33 and 34: Pamphobeteus grandis © Rick C. Wes
Page 35 and 36: Although not a new species discover
Page 37 and 38: Fire and deforestation go hand in h
Page 39 and 40: Amazon release up to 0.5 billion to
Page 41 and 42: For more information on WWF’s Liv
Page 43 and 44: frogs (Centrolenidae) of Yanayacu B
Page 45 and 46: Appendix. New species discoveries M
Page 47 and 48: Plants Species Scientist(s) Date Lo
Page 49 and 50: Plants Species Scientist(s) Date Lo
Page 51 and 52: Fish Species Scientist(s) Date Loca
Page 53 and 54: Fish Amphibians Species Scientist(s
Page 55 and 56: Amphibians Species Scientist(s) Dat
Page 57 and 58: Mammals Species Scientist(s) Date L
Page 59 and 60: Bolivia WWF-Bolivia Santa Cruz Av.

Amazon Alive: A Decade of Discoveries 1999-2009 - WWF

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?