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Princeton University Press
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The Amazon and Orinoco basins in northern South America are home to the highest concentration of freshwater fish species on earth, with more than 3,000 species allotted to 564 genera. Amazonian fishes include piranhas, electric eels, freshwater stingrays, a myriad of beautiful small-bodied tetras and catfishes, and the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world, the pirarucu. Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas provides descriptions and identification keys for all the known genera of fishes that inhabit Greater Amazonia, a vast and still mostly remote region of tropical rainforests, seasonally flooded savannas, and meandering lowland rivers.

The guide’s contributors include more than fifty expert scientists. They summarize the current state of knowledge on the taxonomy, species richness, and ecology of these fish groups, and provide references to relevant literature for species-level identifications. This richly illustrated guide contains 700 detailed drawings, 190 color photos, and 500 distribution maps, which cover all genera. An extensive and illustrated glossary helps readers with the identification keys.

The first complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas, this comprehensive guide is essential for anyone interested in the freshwater life inhabiting this part of the world.

  • First complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon and Orinoco basins
  • Contributors include more than fifty experts
  • Identification keys and distribution maps for all genera
  • 190 stunning color photos
  • 700 detailed line drawings
  • Extensive and illustrated glossary

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Half Title, Frontispiece, Title Page, Copyright
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. 5-6
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  1. Foreword
  2. Michael J. Goulding
  3. p. 7
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  1. Preface
  2. Luiz R. Malabarba
  3. p. 8
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  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. 9-10
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  1. Contributors
  2. pp. 11-12
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  1. General Introduction
  2. pp. 13-22
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  1. How to Use This Book
  2. pp. 22-25
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  1. Identification Key to Fish Families
  2. pp. 26-34
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  1. Photographic Guide to Fish Families
  2. pp. 35-68
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  1. The Fish Families
  2. p. 69
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  1. Carcharhiniformes
  1. Carcharhinidae—Requiem Sharks
  2. p. 69
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  1. Pristiformes
  1. Pristidae—Sawfishes or Carpenter Sharks
  2. p. 69
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  1. Myliobatiformes
  1. Potamotrygonidae—River Stingrays
  2. pp. 70-72
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  1. Lepidosireniformes
  1. Lepidosirenidae—South American Lungfish
  2. p. 72
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  1. Anguilliformes
  1. Ophichthidae—Snake Eels
  2. p. 73
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  1. Osteoglossiformes
  1. Arapaimidae—Bonytongues
  2. p. 73
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  1. Osteoglossidae—Arowanas
  2. p. 74
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  1. Clupeiformes
  1. Clupeidae—Herrings
  2. p. 74
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  1. Engraulidae—Anchovies
  2. pp. 75-78
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  1. Pristigasteridae—Longfin Herrings
  2. pp. 79-80
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  1. Characiformes
  1. Acestrorhynchidae—Freshwater Barracudas
  2. p. 81
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  1. Anostomidae—Toothed Headstanders
  2. pp. 82-89
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  1. Bryconidae—Dorados or Jaw Characins
  2. pp. 90-91
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  1. Chalceidae—Tucanfishes
  2. p. 91
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  1. Characidae—Tetras and Relatives
  2. pp. 92-93
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  1. Aphyocharacinae—Bloodfin Tetras
  2. pp. 93-96
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  1. Aphyoditeinae—Aphyoditeine Tetras
  2. pp. 97-102
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  1. Characinae—Characine Tetras
  2. pp. 102-106
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  1. Cheirodontinae—Cheirodontine Tetras
  2. pp. 106-110
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  1. Heterocharacinae—Heterocharacine Tetras
  2. pp. 110-113
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  1. Stevardiinae—Stevardiine Tetras
  2. pp. 113-127
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  1. Characidae incertae sedis Including Subfamilies Tetragonopterinae and Stethaprioninae
  2. pp. 128-140
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  1. Chilodontidae—Headstanders
  2. pp. 141-142
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  1. Crenuchidae—South American Darters
  2. pp. 142-148
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  1. Ctenoluciidae—Pike-characins
  2. p. 148
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  1. Curimatidae—Toothless Characins
  2. pp. 148-153
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  1. Cynodontidae—Dogtooth Characiforms
  2. pp. 154-156
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  1. Erythrinidae—Wolf-fishes and Yarrows
  2. pp. 156-158
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  1. Gasteropelecidae—Freshwater Hatchetfishes
  2. pp. 158-160
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  1. Hemiodontidae—Halftooths
  2. pp. 161-163
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  1. Iguanodectidae—Iguanodectid Characiforms
  2. pp. 163-165
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  1. Lebiasinidae—Pencilfishes
  2. pp. 165-169
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  1. Parodontidae—Scrapetooths
  2. pp. 169-170
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  1. Prochilodontidae—Flannel Mouth Characiforms
  2. pp. 170-172
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  1. Serrasalmidae—Piranhas and Pacus
  2. pp. 172-196
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  1. Triportheidae—Elongate Hatchetfishes and Relatives
  2. pp. 196-198
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  1. Siluriformes
  1. Ariidae—Sea Catfishes
  2. pp. 198-202
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  1. Aspredinidae—Banjo Catfishes
  2. pp. 202-207
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  1. Astroblepidae—Andean Hillstream or Climbing Catfishes
  2. pp. 207-208
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  1. Auchenipteridae—Driftwood Catfishes
  2. pp. 208-216
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  1. Callichthyidae—Callichthyid Armored Catfishes
  2. pp. 216-219
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  1. Cetopsidae—Whale Catfishes
  2. pp. 220-221
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  1. Doradidae—Thorny Catfishes
  2. pp. 222-233
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  1. Heptapteridae—Three-barbeled Catfishes
  2. pp. 233-252
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  1. Loricariidae—Suckermouth Armored Catfishes
  2. pp. 253-254
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  1. Hypoptopomatinae—Otos and Relatives
  2. pp. 254-258
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  1. Hypostominae—Plecos and Relatives
  2. pp. 259-286
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  1. Lithogeninae—Climbing Armored Catfishes
  2. pp. 286-287
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  1. Loricariinae—Loricariine Armored Catfishes
  2. pp. 287-298
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  1. Rhinelepinae—Rhinelepine Plecos
  2. p. 298
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  1. Pimelodidae—Long-whiskered Catfishes
  2. pp. 299-308
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  1. Pseudopimelodidae—Bumblebee Catfishes, Dwarf-marbled Catfishes
  2. pp. 308-310
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  1. Scoloplacidae—Spiny Dwarf Catfishes
  2. p. 310
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  1. Trichomycteridae—Pencil Catfishes, Torrent Catfishes, and Parasitic Catfishes (Candirús)
  2. pp. 311-322
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  1. Siluriform Phreatobius incertae sedis
  2. p. 322
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  1. Gymnotiformes
  1. Apteronotidae—Ghost Knifefishes
  2. pp. 322-330
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  1. Gymnotidae—Electric Eel and Banded Knifefishes
  2. pp. 330-334
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  1. Hypopomidae—Grass Knifefishes
  2. pp. 334-337
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  1. Rhamphichthyidae—Painted Knifefishes, Sand Knifefishes, and Trumpet Knifefishes
  2. pp. 337-340
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  1. Sternopygidae—Glass Knifefishes, Rattail Knifefishes
  2. pp. 341-345
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  1. Cyprinodontiformes
  1. Anablepidae—Four-eyed Fishes
  2. p. 345
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  1. Cyprinodontidae—Pupfishes
  2. p. 346
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  1. Poeciliidae—Livebearers
  2. pp. 346-350
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  1. Rivulidae—Rivuline Killifishes
  2. pp. 350-359
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  1. Perciformes
  1. Cichlidae—Cichlids
  2. pp. 359-385
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  1. Polycentridae—New World Leaf-Fishes
  2. pp. 385-386
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  1. Sciaenidae—Drums or Croakers
  2. pp. 386-388
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  1. Gobiiformes
  1. Eleotridae—Sleepers
  2. pp. 388-391
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  1. Gobiidae—Gobies
  2. pp. 392-395
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  1. Batrachoidiformes
  1. Batrachoididae—Toadfishes
  2. p. 396
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  1. Beloniformes
  1. Belonidae—Needlefishes
  2. pp. 397-398
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  1. Hemirhamphidae—Halfbeaks
  2. p. 398
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  1. Synbranchiformes
  1. Synbranchidae—Swamp Eels
  2. p. 399
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  1. Syngnathiformes
  1. Syngnathidae—Pipefishes
  2. pp. 399-400
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  1. Pleuronectiformes
  1. Achiridae—American Soles
  2. pp. 400-402
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  1. Tetraodontiformes
  1. Tetraodontidae—Pufferfishes
  2. p. 402
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  1. Glossary of Technical Terms
  2. pp. 403-412
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  1. Literature Cited
  2. pp. 413-458
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  1. Photo Credits
  2. p. 459
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 460-464
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