Peces límnicos de Chile

Abstract

Geographic isolation and hydrological characteristics of Chilean fresh-waters systems would be the main causes to explain the low number of fresh-water fishes, their high endemism and the narrow distribution that for some species extends for only two or three basins. These species generally also have small sizes (menor que 20 cm of total length). Fresh-water fishes have a marine and tropical origin what together with hidrological characteristics would determine a distribution that seldom goes beyond 1500 m o f altitude. Exceptionally it is possible to find native species in the highlands lakes and rivers of the andean range. This work intends to characterize freshwater fish assemblages of the main hydrographic basins of the country updating the bibliographic information available.