Flora and fauna Magdalena River

fish


honda, along magdalena river

the magdalena river basin, includes cauca river , other tributaries, rich in fish. of 2008, 213 fish species known basin. since several new species have been described basin such 5 hemibrycon in 2013, 2 ancistrus in 2013 , farlowella in 2014. among more famous species in basin caquetaia umbrifera, ctenolucius hujeta, geophagus steindachneri, ichthyoelephas longirostris, panaque cochliodon, pimelodus blochii, potamotrygon magdalenae, prochilodus magdalenae, pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum , salminus affinis. 55% of fish species in basin endemic, including 4 endemic genera: catfish centrochir , eremophilus, , characids carlastyanax (often included in astyanax) , genycharax. in general, fish fauna shows connections surrounding basins, notably atrato , maracaibo, lesser extent amazon–orinoco.

the productive fishing areas in colombia in basin, there has been drastic decrease in annual harvest fall of 90% between 1975 , 2008. primary threats pollution (such human waste, mining, farming , deforestation causing siltation) , habitat loss (such dams). additional dams being constructed, including el quimbo (opened in 2015) , ituango (expected operational in 2018), has caused controversy. result of pollution, heavy metals have been detected in commercially important fish in river. of 2002, 19 fish species in river basin recognized threatened.

other animals

the magdalena river , valley crosses wide variety of ecosystems, páramo in headwaters, dry forest in upper part of valley, rainforest in middle course, , swamps , wetlands in lower course. spectacled caiman, green iguana , brown pelican abundant in these ecosystems other animal species west indian manatee, magdalena tinamou, todd s parakeet, american crocodile, colombian slider, magdalena river turtle, dahl s toad-headed turtle , red-footed tortoise in danger of extinction.