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Freshwater Fish Distribution

With more than 29,000 species, fishes are the most diverse group of vertebrates on the planet. Of that number, more than 12,000 species are found in freshwater ecosystems, which occupy less than 1 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain only 2.4 percent of plant and animal species. But, on a hectare-for-hectare basis, freshwater ecosystems are richer in species than more extensive terrestrial and marine habitats. Examination of the distribution patterns of fishes in these fresh waters reveals much about continental movements and climate changes and has long been critical to biogeographical studies and research in ecology and evolution.

Tim Berra’s seminal resource, Freshwater Fish Distribution,maps the 169 fish families that swim in fresh water around the world. Each family account includes the class, subclass, and order; a pronunciation guide to the family name; life cycle information; and interesting natural history facts. Each account is illustrated, many with historical nineteenth-century woodcuts.

Now available in paperback, this heavily cited work in ichthyology and biogeography will serve as a reference for students, a research support for professors, and a helpful guide to tropical fish hobbyists and anglers.

615 pages | 323 halftones | 7 x 10 | © 2007

Biological Sciences: Biology--Systematics, Conservation, Ecology, Tropical Biology and Conservation

Reviews

"The text is a celebration of the diversity in morphology, life history, and behavior of fishes. Biological facts are extensive, well researched, and current. . . . A valuable addition to the library of any professional ichthyologist."

Stephen T. Ross | Transacions of the American Fisheries Society

"A well-balanced, highly informative treatment. . . . This new edition . . . is a major accomplishment and a significant improvement over the first edition (1981). . . . Anyone with interests in fresh water, geography, fishes, and pattern should have a copy of this book for study and reference."

Brooks M. Burr | Copela

"The author states the book was intended to be a reference for students, teachers, ichthyologists, zoogeographers and to other piscatorial aficionados, such as anglers and aquarists. Aquatic biologists, fish biologists, and fisheries biologists should have been included because all will find this reference useful."

Noel M. Burkheed | JNABS

"Whoever is looking for an overview on the distribution areas of freshwater fish families will find practical advice in this book . . . for a reasonable price."

Harro Hieronimus | Bulletin of Fish Biology

Table of Contents

PREFACE TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION
PREFACE TO THE 2001 EDITION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

PRONUNCIATION OF FAMILY NAMES
Families and Maps 

AGNATHA-Jawless Fishes
Petromyzontidae-Iampreys
Geotriidae-pouched lamprey
Mordaciidae-Southern Hemisphere lampreys

GNATHOSTOMATA-Jawed Fishes

CHONDRICHTHYES-Cartilaginous Fishes
Carcharhinidae-requiem sharks
Potamotrygonidae-river stingrays
Dasyatidae-whiptail stingrays

SARCOPTERYGII-Lungfishes
Ceratodontidae-Australian lungfish
Lepidosirenidae-South American lungfish
Protopteridae-African lungfishes

ACTINOPTERYGII-Ray-Finned Fishes
Polypteridae-bichirs
Acipenseridae-sturgeons
Polyodontidae-paddlefishes
Lepisosteidae-gars
Amiidae-bowfin
Osteoglossidae-bonytongues
Pantodontidae-butterflyfish
Hiodontidae-mooneye and goldeneye
Notopteridae-featherbacks
Mormyridae-elephantfishes
Gymnarchidae-aba
Anguillidae-freshwater eels
Denticipitidae-denticle herring
Engraulidae-anchovies
Pristigasteridae-pristigasterids
CIupeidae-herrings
Sundasalangidae-sundasalangids
Kneriidae-kneriids
Phractolaemidae-snake mudhead
Cyprinidae-minnows, carps
Gyrinocheilidae-algae eaters
Catostomidae-suckers
Cobitidae-loaches
Balitoridae-river or hillstream loaches
Distichodontidae-distichodontids
Citharinidae-citharinids
Parodontidae-parodontids
Curimatidae-curimatids
Prochilodontidae-prochilodontids
Anostomidae-anostomids, headstanders
Chilodontidae-chilodontids, headstanders
Crenuchidae-crenuchids, South American darters
Hemiodontidae-hemiodontids
Alestidae-African characins or tetras
Gasteropelecidae-hatchetfishes, flying characins
Characidae-characids
Acestrorhynchidae-acestrorhynchids
Cynodontidae-cynodontids
Erythrinidae-trahiras
Lebiasinidae-Iebiasinids
Ctenoluciidae-pike characins
Hepsetidae-African pike characins
Diplomystidae-diplomystids
Cetopsidae-whale-like catfishes
Ictaluridae-North American or bullhead catfishes
Claroteidae-claroteid catfishes
Austroglanididae-austroglanidid catfishes
Bagridae-bagrid catfishes
Pimelodidae-Iong-whiskered catfishes
Cranoglanididae-armorhead catfishes
Siluridae-silurid catfishes
Schilbeidae-schilbeid catfishes
Pangasiidae-pangasiid catfishes
Chacidae-squarehead, angler, or frogmouth catfishes
Plotosidae-eeltail catfishes
Clariidae-air-breathing or walking catfishes
Heteropneustidae-air sac or stinging catfishes
Malapteruridae-electric catfishes
Ariidae-sea catfishes
Mochokidae-upside-down catfishes, squeakers
Doradidae-thorny or talking catfishes
Auchenipteridae-driftwood catfishes, slopehead catfishes
Arnblycipitidae-torrent catfishes
Akysidae-strearn catfishes
Sisoridae-sisorid catfishes
Erethistidae-erethistid catfishes
Aspredinidae-banjo catfishes
Amphiliidae-loach catfishes
Nematogenyidae-nematogenyid catfishes
Trichomycteridae-parasitic or pencil catfishes
Callichthyidae-armored catfishes
Scoloplacidae-spiny dwarf catfishes
Loricariidae-suckerrnouth armored catfishes
Astroblepidae-climbing catfishes
Sternopygidae-glass knifefishes
Rhamphichthyidae-sand knifefishes
Hypopomidae-hypopomid knifefishes
Apteronotidae-ghost knifefishes
Gyrnnotidae-naked-back knifefishes
Electrophoridae-electric eel or electric knifefish
Esocidae-pikes
Urnbridae-rnudminnows
Osmeridae-smelts
Salangidae-icefishes or noodlefishes
Retropinnidae-Southern Hemisphere smelts and graylings
Lepidogalaxiidae-salamanderfish
Galaxiidae-galaxiids
Salmonidae-salmons, trouts
Percopsidae-trout-perches
Aphredoderidae-pirate perch
Amblyopsidae-cavefishes
Bythitidae-viviparous brotulas
Gadidae-cods
Batrachoididae-toadfishes
Mugilidae-mullets
Bedotiidae-bedotiids
Melanotaeniidae-rainbowfishes
Pseudomugilidae-blue eyes
Atherinidae-silversides
Telmatherinidae-sailfin silversides or Celebes rainbowfishes
Phallostethidae-phallostethids or priapium fishes
Adrianichthyidae-ricefishes, medakas
Belonidae-needlefishes
Hemiramphidae-halfbeaks
Aplocheilidae-Old World aplocheiloids
Rivulidae-New World aplocheiloids or rivulines
Profundulidae-Middle American killifishes
Fundulidae-topminnows and killifishes
Valenciidae-valenciids
Anablepidae-four-eyed fishes
Poeciliidae-poeciliids
Goodeidae-goodeids
Cyprinodontidae-pupfishes, killifishes
Gasterosteidae-sticklebacks
Syngnathidae-pipefishes and seahorses
Indostomidae-indostomids
Synbranchidae-swamp eels
Chaudhuriidae-earthworlll eels
Mastacembelidae-spiny eels
Cottidae-sculpins
Comephoridae-Baikal oilfishes
Abyssocottidae-abyssocottids
Centropomidae-snooks
Ambassidae-Asiatic glassfishes
Moronidae-temperate basses
Percichthyidae-temperate perches
Centrarchidae-sunfishes
Percidae-perches, darters
Apogonidae-cardinalfishes, mouth-almighty
Coiidae-tigerperches
Polynemidae-threadfins
Sciaenidae-drums, croakers
Monodactylidae-moonfishes
Toxotidae-archerfishes
Nandidae-Asian leaffishes
Polycentridae-African and South American leaffishes
Pristolepididae-pristolepidids
Terapontidae-grunters
Kuhliidae-flagtails
Elassomatidae-pygmy sunfishes
Cichlidae-cichlids
Embiotocidae-surfperches
Bovichthyidae-bovichthyids
Cheimarrhichthyidae-torrentfish
Rhyacichthyidae-loach gobies
Odontobutidae-odontobutids
Eleotridae-sleepers, gudgeons
Gobiidae-gobies
Kurtidae-nurseryfishes
Scatophagidae-scats
Luciocephalidae-pikehead
Anabantidae-climbing gouramies
Helostomatidae-kissing gourami
Belontiidae-gouramies
Osphronemidae-giant gouramies
Channidae-snakeheads
Achiridae-American soles
Soleidae-soles
Cynoglossidae-tonguefishes
Tetraodontidae-puffers

GLOSSARY
APPENDIX A: PRINCIPAL RIVERS OF THE WORLD
APPENDIX B: PRINCIPAL LAKES OF THE WORLD
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FAMILIES

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