CONTENTS

Foreword by Michael J. Goulding ...... 7 Anguilliformes Preface by Luiz R. Malabarba ...... 8 Ophichthidae—Snake Eels ...... 73 Acknowledgments ...... 9 Osteoglossiformes Contributors ...... 11 Arapaimidae—Bonytongues ...... 73 General Introduction ...... 13 Osteoglossidae—Arowanas ...... 74 Evolutionary History of Amazonian .. 14 Amazonian Diversity ...... 15 Clupeidae— ...... 74 Amazonian Fish Ecology ...... 17 Engraulidae— ...... 75 Conservation of Amazonian Fishes ...... 22 Pristigasteridae—Longfin Herrings ...... 79 Further Reading ...... 22 Characiformes How to Use This Book ...... 23 Acestrorhynchidae—Freshwater Barracudas . 81 Concept ...... 23 Anostomidae—Toothed Headstanders ..... 82 Structure ...... 23 Bryconidae—Dorados or Jaw Characins .... 90 Using Taxonomic Keys ...... 23 Chalceidae—Tucanfishes ...... 91 The Accounts ...... 23 Characidae—Tetras and Relatives ...... 92 Distribution Maps ...... 24 Aphyocharacinae—Bloodfin Tetras ...... 93 Drawings ...... 24 Aphyoditeinae—Aphyoditeine Tetras...... 97 Photographic Plates...... 24 Characinae—Characine Tetras ...... 102 Limitations of This Book ...... 25 Cheirodontinae—Cheirodontine Tetras ....106 Heterocharacinae—Heterocharacine Tetras .110 Identification Key to Fish Families . . . 26 Stevardiinae—Stevardiine Tetras ...... 113 Photographic Guide to Fish Families . . 35 Characidae incertae sedis Including Subfamilies Tetragonopterinae and The Fish Families ...... 69 Stethaprioninae ...... 128 Carcharhiniformes Chilodontidae—Headstanders ...... 141 Crenuchidae—South American Darters ... 142 Carcharhinidae—Requiem ...... 69 Ctenoluciidae—Pike-characins ...... 148 Pristiformes Curimatidae—Toothless Characins ...... 148 Pristidae—Sawfishes or Carpenter Sharks ... 69 Cynodontidae—Dogtooth Characiforms .. 154 Myliobatiformes Erythrinidae—Wolf-fishes and Yarrows .... 156 Potamotrygonidae—River Stingrays ...... 70 Gasteropelecidae—Freshwater Lepidosireniformes Hatchetfishes ...... 158 Hemiodontidae—Halftooths ...... 161 Lepidosirenidae—South American ..72 Iguanodectidae—Iguanodectid Characiforms ...... 163 6 CONTENTS

Lebiasinidae—Pencilfishes ...... 165 Rhamphichthyidae—Painted Knifefishes, Parodontidae—Scrapetooths ...... 169 Sand Knifefishes, and Trumpet Knifefishes ...... 337 Prochilodontidae—Flannel Mouth Characiforms ...... 170 Sternopygidae—Glass Knifefishes, Rattail Knifefishes ...... 341 Serrasalmidae—Piranhas and Pacus . . . . 172 Triportheidae—Elongate Hatchetfishes Cyprinodontiformes and Relatives ...... 196 Anablepidae—Four-eyed Fishes . . . . . 345 Siluriformes Cyprinodontidae—Pupfishes ...... 346 Ariidae—Sea ...... 198 Poeciliidae—Livebearers ...... 346 Aspredinidae—Banjo Catfishes ...... 202 Rivulidae—Rivuline Killifishes ...... 350 Astroblepidae—Andean Hillstream or Perciformes Climbing Catfishes ...... 207 Cichlidae—Cichlids ...... 359 Auchenipteridae—Driftwood Catfishes . . . 208 Polycentridae—New World Leaf-Fishes . . 385 Callichthyidae—Callichthyid Armored Sciaenidae—Drums or Croakers . . . . . 386 Catfishes ...... 216 —Whale Catfishes ...... 220 Gobiiformes Doradidae—Thorny Catfishes ...... 222 Eleotridae—Sleepers ...... 388 —Three-barbeled Catfishes . 233 —Gobies ...... 392 —Suckermouth Armored Batrachoidiformes Catfishes ...... 253 Batrachoididae—Toadfishes ...... 396 Hypoptopomatinae—Otos and Relatives . . 254 Beloniformes Hypostominae—Plecos and Relatives . . . . 259 Belonidae—Needlefishes ...... 397 Lithogeninae—Climbing Armored Catfishes .286 Hemirhamphidae—Halfbeaks ...... 398 Loricariinae—Loricariine Armored Catfishes .287 Rhinelepinae—Rhinelepine Plecos . . . . . 298 Synbranchiformes —Long-whiskered Catfishes . . 299 Synbranchidae—Swamp Eels ...... 399 Pseudopimelodidae—Bumblebee Catfishes, Dwarf-marbled Catfishes . . . 308 — ...... 399 Scoloplacidae—Spiny Dwarf Catfishes . . . 310 Pleuronectiformes —Pencil Catfishes, Torrent Catfishes, and Parasitic Achiridae—American Soles ...... 400 Catfishes (Candirús) ...... 311 Tetraodontiformes Siluriform Phreatobius incertae sedis . . . 322 Tetraodontidae—Pufferfishes ...... 402 Gymnotiformes Glossary of Technical Terms ...... 403 Apteronotidae—Ghost Knifefishes . . . . 322 Literature Cited ...... 413 Gymnotidae—Electric Eel and Banded Photo Credits ...... 459 Knifefishes ...... 330 Index ...... 460 Hypopomidae—Grass Knifefishes . . . . . 334