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Eleocharis sp in natural habitat. #aquascapingnegros

CIAC 2025 Schedule & How to apply

The CIPS International Aquarium Contest (CIAC) 2025 is a prestigious international event that celebrates the art of aquascaping. Hosted by the China International Pet Show (CIPS), the contest invites aquascapers from all over the world to showcase their talent in creating beautiful underwater landscapes. The competition is judged by a panel of renowned experts and is known for its high standards and significant prizes, including monetary awards, trophies, and certificates. It serves as a platform for aquarists to share their creativity, innovation, and technical skills in creating stunning aquatic environments.

https://aqualibs.com/famous-contest/ciac/

Researchers have produced an updated list of the ichthyofauna from Yasuní National Park (YNP), a protected area comprising roughly 10,000 km² between the Napo and Curaray Rivers in Pastaza and Orellana Provinces within Amazonian Ecuador. Results from this survey yielded 458 species of freshwater fishes distributed in 47 families and 13 orders.

Open-access - https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/136476/

"This number exceeded previous fish lists from YNP and accounts for a considerable proportion of species inhabiting the Napo River Basin."

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Exceptional concentration of fish diversity in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador (Napo River Basin)

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Escobar-Camacho D, Valdiviezo-Rivera J, Carrillo-Moreno C, Argüello P, Swing K (2025) Exceptional concentration of fish diversity in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador (Napo River Basin). Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e136476. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e136476

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
Background
Despite limited access and rather deficient sampling in many lowland areas of eastern Ecuador, scientists have been able to demonstrate that this specific region of Amazonia houses extraordinarily high concentrations of species within several taxa – terrestrial and aquatic, plant and animal, vertebrate and invertebrate.

New information
In this work, we developed an updated list of the ichthyofauna of the Yasuní National Park (YNP), based on an extensive literature review and databases of the most representative ichthyological collections from Ecuador.

Our results yielded 458 species of freshwater fishes distributed in 47 families and 13 orders. This number exceeded previous fish lists from YNP and accounts for a considerable proportion of species inhabiting the Napo River Basin as well as the entire Amazon River Basin. The higher-than-previously-reported species diversity within this protected area, the services these species provide to humans and the absence of invasive species underscore the need for greater efforts and investment in protecting and managing western Amazonian lands and waters.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Examples of species from Yasuní National Park denoting their morphological and phylogenetic diversity. A 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑠 (Loricariidae); B 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑎 (Gasteropelecidae); C 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑟ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑢𝑠 (Serrasalmidae); D 𝐵𝑢𝑗𝑢𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚 (Cichlidae); E 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑠 (Pimelodidae); F 𝐺𝑦𝑚𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑜 (Gymnotidae); G 𝐴𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑝𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑒 (Rivulidae); H 𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠 (Achiridae); I 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 (Synbranchidae); J 𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑢𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛 (Loricariidae); K 𝑀𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑎 𝑎𝑙𝑏𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑚 (Serrasalmidae). Photos: courtesy of José Vieira. https://www.ex-situphotography.com/

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published in Biodiversity Data Journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

New research focuses on the endemic Corydoradinae species from the high-altitude, fast-flowing rivers of northwestern Argentina, offering insight into the morphological and behavioural characteristics associated with the high torrentiality of the Andean rivers they inhabit. 𝑈𝑟𝑘𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠, 𝑈. 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦𝑠𝑎𝑒, 𝑈. 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑖, and the newly described 𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑎 𝑜𝑠𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑑𝑜𝑖 face significant threats, including habitat degradation, pollution, and anthropogenic disturbances, particularly 𝑈. 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑖 and 𝑈. 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦𝑠𝑎𝑒, which are classified as Critically Endangered.

Open-access - https://www.lillo.org.ar/journals/index.php/acta-zoologica-lilloana/article/view/2076

"This study underscores the critical importance of conserving these ecosystems, providing insights into the interplay between morphology, behavior, and environmental pressures, and advancing our understanding of species diversification in Neotropical freshwater ecosystems."

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Morphofunctional anatomy, swimming behavior and conservation of Corydoradinae species from Northwestern La Plata basin

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Alonso, F., Terán, G. E., Aguilera, G., Serra Alanis, W. S., & Mirande, J. M. (2025). Morphofunctional anatomy, swimming behavior and conservation of Corydoradinae species from Northwestern La Plata basin. Acta Zoológica Lilloana, 51–57. https://doi.org/10.30550/j.azl/2076

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
This study focuses on endemic Corydoradinae species from the northwestern La Plata River basin, specifically 𝑈𝑟𝑘𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠, 𝑈𝑟𝑘𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑢 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦𝑠𝑎𝑒, 𝑈𝑟𝑘𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑢 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑖, and 𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑎 𝑜𝑠𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑑𝑜𝑖, inhabiting piedmont high-altitude, fast-flowing Andean rivers.

Using direct behavioral observations and morphometric analyses, we characterized their swimming behavior and its relationship to the morphology and their habitat conditions characterized by intense seasonal flooding during the summer. The findings reveal that Corydoradinae from these environments exhibit unique swimming behaviors, such as energy-efficient tripod-like resting postures, driven by negative buoyancy and streamlined body shapes. Morphological traits such as reduced pectoral and dorsal-fin spines and lower body depth enhance hydrodynamic efficiency. Comparisons with congeners from low-flow environments highlight evolutionary convergence within the species from different lineages.

Conservation assessments reveal significant threats to these species, including habitat degradation, pollution, and anthropogenic disturbances, particularly for 𝑈. 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑖 and 𝑈. 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦𝑠𝑎𝑒, which are classified as Critically Endangered.

This study underscores the critical importance of conserving these ecosystems, providing insights into the interplay between morphology, behavior, and environmental pressures, and advancing our understanding of species diversification in Neotropical freshwater ecosystems.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Excellent sci-comm poster produced for this paper.

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published in Acta Zoológica Lilloana journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/