ISSN 1809-127X (online edition) © 2011 Check List and Authors Chec List Open Access | Freely available at www.checklist.org.br Journal of species lists and distribution N Hoplosternum littorale ISTRIBUTIO upperActinopterygii, São Francisco Siluriformes, River region, Callichthyidae, southeast Brazil D (Hancock, 1828): Distribution extension in the 1* 1, 2 RAPHIC Luiz Fernando Salvador-Jr. and Fabiano de Andrade Silva G EO G N Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. O 1 Neotropical Research – Grupo de Estudo para a Conservação da Fauna Neotropical. Rua Dona Cecília 50 / 05, Serra. CEP 30220-070. OTES 2 Programa de Pós-Graduação [email protected] Zoologia de Vertebrados PUCMinas. Avenida Dom José Gaspar 500 / Prédio 41, Coração Eucarístico. N CEP 30535-610. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. * Corresponding author. E-mail: Abstract: The tamoatá Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828) is an alien catfish to the São Francisco River basin. Although it has been registered along all of this hydrological system’s extension, including the segment located upstream of the Três Marias dam, up to now the species had not yet been detected in the Pará River sub-basin. Between the 19th and 28th of October 2009, 27 specimens were collected in this drainage system; over half of them captured in a highly polluted artificial reservoir. The results of the present study reinforce that the implementation of reservoirs and the pollution of the continental waters favor not only the expansion, but also the establishment of non-native teleosts with opportunist habits. The dispersion of organisms into new territories is a and Leal 2010), considered one of the main tributaries of the São Francisco River’s right bank (Pereira et al. 2007; Tupinambás et al. 2007). speciesnatural (Helfmanbiogeographic et al. phenomenon limited not only by Thus, considering the need to relate and emphasize the occurphysical as barriers, a result butof humanalso by theactions, intrinsic it is mobility considered of each an presence of non-native species as part of conservationist introduction (Helfman 1997).et al. 1997; When Gozlan such range et al. extensions2010). strategies (Vitule 2009; Gozlan et al. 2010), the present Despite its disastrous effects (Zaret and Paine 1973; paper has the objective of accusing the increased Achieng 1990; Molina et al. distribution of H. littorale upstream of the Três Marias 2004; Pelicice and Agostinho 2008), the release of non- 1996; Latini and Petrere-Jr. the Pará River sub-basin. It also aims to co-relate its local presencedam, pointing and outestablishment the first records with of thishuman Callichthyidae intervention in native fish has become a common practice andet canal. occur in this aquatic environment, as well as to evaluate its Magalhãesnot only intentionally et al. 2002; Latini(Zaret and and Petrere-Jr. Paine 1973; 2004; Achieng Vitule possible impacts within its new range. Management 2009;1990; GozlanAgostinho et al. and Júlio-Jr. 1996; Molina 1996; recommendations are also proposed in order to prevent new introductions and the risk of biological invasions. 2010), but also passively by accidental Between the 19th and 28th of October 2009, while Vituleescapes 2009; from Gozlan tanks etor al. fish 2010). farming stations (Zaret and o 134-09 – PaineThe 1973; tamoatá Agostinho Hoplosternum and Júlio-Jr. littorale 1996; (Hancock,Magalhães 1828)2007; IEF/MG) using gill and sieving nets in the São João and Pará conducting experimental fisheries (License N 2003; Abdallah et al. of 27 specimens of H. littorale (Figure 2) with standard is a benthonic air-breathing catfish (Burgess 1989; Reis Rivers, and Coelhos stream (Figure 1), we collected a total 2006; Jucá-Chagaset al. and Boccardo 2006), usually associated with swampy rivers and individualslength varying were between submitted 9.5 forand preservation 19.1 cm and atbody the weightMuseu (Reisfloodplains 2003), (Burgess this species 1989; Abdallahis allochthonous 2006). to Althoughthe São deoscillating Zoologia between da Universidade 25 and 245 de grams. São Paulo Of this (MZUSP), total, seven and Franciscoit is the Callichthyidae River basin (Oliveira with the andlargest Moraes-Jr. spatial distribution1997; Alves the others were dissected for macroscopic evaluation of the gonadal maturation stages according to Bazolli (2003) (Table 1). Lealand Pompeu2010). 2001; 2005; Pompeu and Alves 2003; Sato Although H. littorale and Sampaio 2005; Barbosa and Soares 2009; Alves and H. littorale was detected in only four (26.7%) Detected for the first time in this basin in 1990 (Oliveira point(Figure out 3) that of 15in thesampled Britos stations,reservoir all this the teleost dissected was and Moraes-Jr. 1997), nowadays is found amply specimens were in full reproductive activity. We also diffused within its limits (Alveset andal. Pompeu 2001;et al. 2005;2009; AlvesPompeu and and Leal Alves 2010). 2003; Despite Pompeu being and Godinhopresent upstream2003; 2006; of ofthe exposure only species of the captured gill nets. by Such the experimentalrepresentation fisheries, is most theSato Três and MariasSampaio dam 2005; (Alves Silva and Leal 2006; 2010), Luz up until now with a total of 15 individuals collected during 12 hours the presence of this species had not been registered in the the domestic sewage of the urban area of the Itaúna sub-basin of the Pará River (Tupinambás et al. 2007; Alves likely related to the fact that this reservoir receives all Check List | Volume 7 | Issue 5 | 2011 municipality, thus accumulating a large quantity of organic621 Salvador-Jr and Silva | Distribution extension of Hoplosternum littorale in Brazil Figure 1. Partial view of the Pará River sub-basin, highlighting the sampling stations where captures of Hoplosternum littorale were made. Since the tamoatá is an obligate air-breather (Reis 2003; and in a marginal lagoon of the Pará River, the fact that matter responsible for the poor quality of its waters. mostDespite records also of beingH. littorale detected occurred in the in CoelhosSão João stream River BraunerJucá-Chagas et al. and Boccardo 2006), which tolerates low otherconcentrations native teleosts of oxygen found inin thethis waterreservoir (Burgess do not 1989;seem to.downstream Relating to from this Itaúna’s segment, county we point sewer out system that asdischarge well as 1995), the apparent adverse conditions for reflects the degree of threat to which this stretch is subject sample was carried-out within its limits, the number of reservoir, it also suffers from siltation and clandestine to constitute obstacles for this species. Although only one the previously mentioned dumping of sewage in the Britos apparent absence of environmental factors capable of causingsexually themature decline individuals of H. littorale captured, in this associatedsampling station, to the supply of industrial effluents; besides sheltering another aquicultureartificial lake, stations a dam near that its acts banks as a and barrier large to amounts upstream of Eichorniafish migration (Dr. Silvino M. Santos power station), permits us to assertet al. that this species is locallyet al. (2008)established and higher concentration of organic matter. Gozlanin Britos et reservoiral. (2010). according to the definitions proposed spp. (Pontederiaceae), especially in areas with by Lockwood (2007), Shafland mentioned marginal lagoon, we stress that this kind of Regarding the presence of tamoatá in the previously teleosts, and are therefore fundamental in the renovation environment acts as a nursery habitat for many species of sheltersof fish communitiesindividuals ofof H.the littorale tropical in rivers full reproductive(Welcomme 1979; Lowe-McConnell 1999). Since this peculiar habitat activity, it is probably acting as an ecological stepping channel,stone for therefore this species, helping since to disseminateduring the floodthis non-native period it likely promotes the recruitment of the young to the main Relating to the deleterious effects resulting from its introductioncatfish. in the environment, H. littorale seems to be a Figure 2. Tamoatá Hoplosternum littorale the Britos reservoir located on the São João River, Pará River sub-basin, species that causes little or no direct impact on the native (MZUSP 106077) captured in et al. 2010). However, like upper São Francisco region. Photo: Luiz F. Salvador-Jr. Check List | Volume 7 | Issue 5 | 2011 fish assemblages (Duxbury 622 Salvador-Jr and Silva | Distribution extension of Hoplosternum littorale in Brazil Table 1. Hoplosternum littorale reservoir,Date, SJr = standardSão João Riverlength downstream (SL in cm), body Britos weight dam and(BW Ml in = g), Pará sex River’s(S), gonadal marginal maturation lagoon. stages (GMS), place of capture and voucher specimens of collected in the Pará River sub-basin between October 19 and 28, 2009. M = Male, F = Female, Cs = Coelhos stream, Br = Britos DATE SL BW S/GMS SAMPLING STATION COORDINATES MUNICIPALITIES VOUCHER SPECIMENS 19 Oct 2009 M/3 Itaúna - 19 Oct 2009 17.1 M/4A Itaúna - 9.5 25 Cs 20°00’01” S, 44°41’37” W 19 Oct 2009 F/4A Itaúna - 155 Cs 21°00’01” S, 44°41’37” W 19 Oct 2009 - Itaúna 14.5 115 Cs 22°00’01” S, 44°41’37” W 20 Oct 2009 M/4A Br Itaúna / Igaratinga - 16.4 160 Cs 22°00’01” S, 44°41’37” W MZUSP 106078 20 Oct 2009 M/4A Br Itaúna / Igaratinga - 15.5 105 19°59’61” S, 44°41’48” W 20 Oct 2009 110 F/4A Br Itaúna / Igaratinga - 13.5 65 19°59’61” S, 44°41’48” W 20 Oct 2009 120 M/4A Br Itaúna / Igaratinga - 15.5 19°59’61” S, 44°41’48” W 20 Oct 2009 F/4A Br Itaúna / Igaratinga - 16.5 19°59’61”