Patterns of Freshwater Fishes of the Caribbean Versant of Venezuela

Abstract

Abstract We delineate local and regional biogeographic provinces that suggest patterns of species richness, and primary and secondary freshwater fish distributions along the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. We use presence‐absence records and classification and ordination models. Patterns at local and regional scales varied markedly such that primary species dominated humid drainages and secondary species dominated arid drainages or transition provinces. Species rich areas, and the presence of narrowly endemic species correlate with patterns of historical isolation and hydrographic refuges. Patterns of species distributions across arid drainages suggest that close proximity of coastal marine drainages allows dispersion and exchange of species. This pattern is particularly evident among secondary species. Hotspots of species richness and endemisms are identified and are recommended as priorities for conservation (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)