Exceptional concentration of fish diversity in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador (Napo River Basin)

Daniel Escobar-Camacho; Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera; Carolina Carrillo-Moreno; Pablo Argüello; Kelly Swing

doi:10.3897/BDJ.13.e136476

. 2025 Mar 13;13:e136476. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e136476

Exceptional concentration of fish diversity in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador (Napo River Basin)

Daniel Escobar-Camacho ^1,^✉, Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera ², Carolina Carrillo-Moreno ^2,³, Pablo Argüello ⁴, Kelly Swing ⁵

PMCID: PMC11926608 PMID: 40125409

Abstract

Background

Despite limited access and rather deficient sampling in many lowland areas of eastern Ecuador, scientists have been able to demonstrate that this specific region of Amazonia houses extraordinarily high concentrations of species within several taxa – terrestrial and aquatic, plant and animal, vertebrate and invertebrate.

New information

In this work, we developed an updated list of the ichthyofauna of the Yasuní National Park (YNP), based on an extensive literature review and databases of the most representative ichthyological collections from Ecuador. Our results yielded 458 species of freshwater fishes distributed in 47 families and 13 orders. This number exceeded previous fish lists from YNP and accounts for a considerable proportion of species inhabiting the Napo River Basin as well as the entire Amazon River Basin.

The higher-than-previously-reported species diversity within this protected area, the services these species provide to humans and the absence of invasive species underscore the need for greater efforts and investment in protecting and managing western Amazonian lands and waters.

Keywords: aquatic ecosystems, megadiversity, protected areas, teleosts, western Amazon

Introduction

Galacatos et al. 1996, Galacatos et al. 2004, Escobar-Camacho et al. 2015The Amazon River Basin is widely recognised as a region of extraordinary biological diversity, though popular discussions often focus primarily on its expansive lowlands. Within greater Amazonia, there are areas of exceptionally high species concentrations (from trees to insects and vertebrates) along a rather narrow crescent that extends from eastern Colombia in the north, through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru and southwards to north-eastern Bolivia (Mittermeier et al. 2011, Kass et al. 2022, Sabatini 2022). The terrain along this strip of the western Amazon Basin exhibits striking topographic variation, with elevations ranging from over 6000 m at the Andean continental divide to less than 200 m within a few hundred kilometres (Sayre et al. 2008). This steep elevational gradient, combined with the equatorial position of Ecuador, has fostered the evolution and maintenance of hyper-diverse biota (Thomassen et al. 2011). The rapid shifting orographic feature of the young Andes has also driven biological diversification over the past few million years (Galvis et al. 2006, Wilkinson et al. 2010). Approximately half of the territory of Ecuador lies within the Amazonian biome, where protected areas, including Yasuní National Park (YNP), created in 1979, safeguard biodiversity and indigenous communities. YNP spans 1,029,566.32 hectares, with elevations ranging from 190 to 400 m a.s.l. (MAATE 2023).

The unique location of YNP, where Andean rivers flow west to east, forms key tributaries of the upper Amazon. To the north, it is bounded by the Napo River and to the south by the Curaray River (Fig. 1), with a network of rivers (Tivacuno, Tiputini, Yasuní, Nashiño, Cononaco and Tigüino) of white and black waters (Galacatos et al. 2004, Galacatos et al. 1996, Escobar-Camacho et al. 2015). The YNP borders Peru to the east and the Waorani Ethnic Reserve to the west (Pappalardo et al. 2013). The Park´s transition from Andean piedmont to lowland floodplains support unique ecosystems, including Evergreen Lowland Forests, Várzea Forests of the Amazonian and Andean alluvial plains, Flooded Palm Forests and Lacustrine-Riparian Grasslands (MAATE 2023, Figs 1, 2). The YNP is home to three indigenous nationalities — Shuar, Kichwa and Waorani — and contains ancestral Waorani territory where two tribes live in voluntary isolation (Pappalardo et al. 2013, Trujillo Montalvo 2018). Critically, YNP boasts high biodiversity, particularly amongst freshwater fishes, which are one of the Park´s most diverse vertebrate groups (Bass et al. 2010).

Figure 1. — Map of Yasuní National Park showing its location (A) and ecosystems (B).

Figure 2. — Different water types and ecosystems within YNP. A White waters of the Tiputini River (Evergreen Lowland Forest of the Napo-Curaray); B Black waters of Lake Añangu (Evergreen Lowland Forest of the Aguarico-Putumayo-Caquetá); C Clear water stream (Tiputini River Basin); D Flooded forest in the rainy season (Tiputini River Basin); E Marsh (Flooded Grassland of the Amazon fluvial plains); F Temporary lake of the Flooded Palm Forests, Amazon alluvial plains. Photos: courtesy of Esteban Suárez (A and D) and Kelly Swing (B, C, E and F).

Fish diversity studies in YNP began in the 1980s with ichthyological explorations of the Napo River Basin, led by the Field Museum of Chicago and Escuela Politécnica Nacional del Ecuador (Stewart et al. 1987, Ibarra and Stewart 1989). Over two decades, research documented 550 freshwater fish species in the Napo River Basin (Barriga 1994, Galacatos et al. 1996, Galacatos et al. 2004), including 253 species within YNP (Barriga 1994). Despite this progress, gaps remain in understanding the full extent of fish diversity, especially given ongoing taxonomic revisions (Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. 2020) and recent discoveries (Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. 2021, Chuctaya et al. 2023) in the region.

This study addresses these gaps by compiling an updated list of fish species occurring in YNP, informed by recent explorations, case studies and data from the two major ichthyological collections of Ecuador. By documenting the freshwater fish diversity of YNP, this work contributes to addressing the global freshwater biodiversity crisis (Reid et al. 2019, Tickner et al. 2020) by providing critical baseline data to provide information for conservation strategies and stakeholders.

Materials and methods

To compile a list of fish species in YNP, an updated database was developed using previous datasets from the Napo Basin of Ecuador and Peru (Barriga 2012, Sanchez et al. 2013, Jézéquel et al. 2020). This database was curated, based on records within YNP boundaries and validated using the ichthyological collections of Ecuadorian museums: Museo de Historia Natural Gustavo Orcés – Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN) and Colección Ictiológica del Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito, Ecuador (MECN-DP). These records reflect decades of Amazonian expeditions and curatorial efforts. In addition, digital databases from the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM), were verified for species absent in MEPN or MECN-DP. As it is possible that fish species registered outside YNP boundaries occur within the Reserve, for this study, we included records from a 15 km range beyond YNP limits. We did not include records from other protected areas nearby or more geographically distant sites despite any ecological similarities. Finally, species classification and ordering were also updated to current taxonomic revisions of each group according to Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes – California Academy of Sciences.

Data resources

Data underpinning this list have been gathered from records from three museum databases and literature. The museum data underpinning the reported list in this study are distributed across three sources: 1) the Darwin Core archive for MECN-DP can be accessed at https://bndb.sisbioecuador.bio/bndb/checklists/checklist.php?clid=15292&emode=0, 2) data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for MEPN are available at https://doi.org/10.60545/fl2c7w and 3) data of the fishes of Ecuador at the FMNH and USNM collection pages are available at https://collections-zoology.fieldmuseum.org/page/collections-data-fishes and https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/fishes/, respectively. The assembled data are available as a single file in the Dryad Data Repository (Escobar-Camacho 2024). This file includes voucher numbers for all species in the 'catalogNumber' column and the names of the museum collections in the 'collectionCode' column. In the checklist below, citations in 'Notes' indicate the literature reporting each species in the YNP area.

Checklists

Fish Species Checklist of Yasuni National Park

Myliobatiformes

74EEC9D8-ADAC-5BC7-B683-DE87F192B29D

Potamotrygonidae

C10D8AFF-794E-57F3-A77D-0C8B3AC986A8

Plesiotrygon iwamae

Rosa, Castello & Thorson 1987

5BDF1079-463E-55D8-BE7B-2E5F2657B578

Distribution

Ecuador, Peru, Brazil.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Potamotrygon motoro

(Müller & Henle 1841)

95D88A14-D114-5767-A68E-891C4B49B23B

Distribution

tropical S.A., east of Andes.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Potamotrygon scobina

Garman 1913

DC86E3A1-51E0-5B45-9526-4FEB9C2EE90B

Distribution

Amazonia.

Osteoglossiformes

33D585F2-40EF-59BD-BDAE-4146044A05A6

Osteoglossidae

A04C549F-EF1F-5AA5-8C87-00F100656AB9

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

(Cuvier 1829)

6FBC1F97-45A2-557C-80A7-DDED9A1385C5

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Arapaimidae

9D0EEB27-D351-5F19-8314-59A6A191D577

Arapaima cf. gigas f. cf.

DA9AF63D-560E-5C1D-8710-C502BE45B688

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), WCS (2007), Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Clupeiformes

A9D28D4F-0AE6-5D64-9551-0571E9ADEDE7

Engraulidae

7D0E1019-D8C2-51BD-9ED1-4C1403729EC5

Anchoviella alleni

(Myers 1940)

6B29A865-9CA4-58D2-93C2-3001FE1BBD9D

Distribution

Western Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018).

Anchoviella sp. 1

A2B6839A-0896-519C-893B-98463CEC3B15

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Limoncocha Lagoon.

Lycengraulis batesii

(Günther 1868)

66B619B6-8172-5C54-8A23-1CDC85501A75

6CDA8768-5912-5893-A53A-8166426DCDB4

Crenuchidae

38F2DEB5-7222-5FF0-A47C-23C98F5518AC

Characidium boehlkei

Géry 1972

C01EB9BA-0876-564A-91B0-8BB2622092E8

Distribution

Napo River Basin, Ecuador.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Characidium etheostoma

Cope 1872

D00361B1-ED9E-594D-A77C-C308ADBFC279

Tobes et al. (2022).

Characidium sp. 1

A4E76590-F21D-5729-A55B-5EA24BF1A71F

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), WCS (2007), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018), Tobes et al. (2022).

Parodontidae

78DDE74F-8009-5247-9F1D-C0C220A2F971

Parodon buckleyi

Boulenger 1887

CDCC1A26-324E-5B44-8620-07441CB33A9E

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Tobes et al. (2022).

Parodon pongoensis

(Allen 1942)

D0FE355F-6293-599B-A321-6A33BFDFC1E0

E40170F6-5E42-56C8-848B-6A9307CEDF1A

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Leporinus friderici

(Bloch 1794)

2CA41B17-82DD-575D-922B-8054085A5E61

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia, Orinoco.

59EEA75B-0255-5EF9-9CEC-77FA3AB8D007

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Leporinus subniger

Fowler 1943

DEC8FE5D-DAE7-5456-8F98-F07366B5339B

Distribution

Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador.

F0DC1740-8B37-5380-925E-1CA1BBC5A0AF

Caenotropus labyrinthicus

(Kner 1858)

1A7ABDB4-8C09-5EC2-AE18-4E07A08E0C93

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia, plus northern drainages.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Chilodus punctatus

Müller & Troschel 1844

BBC3FD6B-77D4-56EF-8456-220F491E7111

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Cyphocharax notatus

Spix & Agassiz 1829

3FDE034D-3B41-56C5-A24D-75200B670A71

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), WCS (2007), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Escobar-Camacho et al. (2015), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Semaprochilodus insignis

(Jardine 1841)

9579DD96-DDCE-578F-AF48-04FDC4F11999

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Triportheidae

34F494AD-1413-5B50-9B3B-5692911E0981

Engraulisoma taeniatum

Castro 1981

F06ECC89-BFAB-508C-A1BD-ED1B6C69FF86

Distribution

Napo Basin, upper Paraguay.

Triportheus albus

Cope 1872

C8FB1586-C5E4-5F27-B931-19349028A602

Distribution

Amazonia, plus northern drainages.

Salminus hilarii

Valenciennes 1850

D0B63F49-A4C7-5CDC-A296-AEECF7261983

Distribution

Western and south-eastern Amazonia.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004)

Iguanodectidae

A996742E-8CF5-541B-817D-E29228A4DA04

Bryconops alburnoides

Kner 1858

1BF124D9-2123-5E22-B203-0404D8A57317

Distribution

Amazonia, Orinoco.

Bryconops caudomaculatus

Barriga (1994).

Bryconacidnus paipayensis

(Pearson 1929)

354AB9D1-37AD-5FC0-877D-7C9D33A2037A

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Chrysobrycon hesperus

(Böhlke 1958)

7B4C8F43-309A-5659-A065-BACBBB6B3894

Distribution

Napo River Basin.

Notes

Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018).

Creagrutus amoenus

Fowler 1943

0B140735-54F2-5A8B-9FC5-235B865E060C

Barriga (1994).

Creagrutus gracilis

Vari & Harold 2001

954CB5A9-F0FC-5076-9860-4BFE912A279E

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, north-eastern Peru.

Creagrutus sp. 1

8A10BD16-D158-5783-8FB3-23FA7BD35862

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Sunka stream, tributary of Tiputini River.

Notes

Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018).

Barriga (1994).

Characidae

EC9CD2F5-1C27-5C2B-A5C2-4919D2AF0B49

Acestrocephalus boehlkei

Menezes 1977

A9C47022-CE3E-5E25-89CB-6DA489DB2DEB

Barriga (1994), Barriga (2011), Escobar-Camacho et al. (2015), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018).

Charax caudimaculatus

Lucena 1987

875C2F35-7CDA-5BB2-B723-94A87F5D8862

Distribution

South-western Amazonia.

Barriga (1994), Barriga (2011).

Leptagoniates steindachneri

Boulenger 1887

D39615B7-C619-50BA-85A6-2AE4ED95AB42

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Odontostilbe ecuadorensis

Bührnheim & Malabarba 2006

8FAF17F9-D1FD-572C-81EE-6C5CF229A4FC

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Napo River Basin in Peru.

Odontostilbe fugitiva

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Acestrorhamphidae

3ED41250-27D4-5CB5-8C26-0A7968000152

Astyanax abramis

(Jenyns 1842)

C8AE8C4F-34DF-5BBF-B327-6B6E2E843433

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018).

Astyanax bimaculatus

(Linnaeus 1758)

88E99A83-AAC1-5FB1-B63D-38CA174FC067

Eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Hemigrammus lunatus

Durbin 1918

9DFB32DC-A55E-59DA-B375-522FAA630BB8

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Paraguay.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004).

Hemigrammus cf. marginatus

57CA46E8-D7B0-57E7-81FD-748C4DB098B3

Distribution

Amazonia, Orinoco.

Notes

Barriga (2012).

Hemigrammus megaceps

4253BF6D-2314-5877-8E6B-B5D7D40E91B2

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, ravine Cotoyacu, confluence with Yasuni River.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Barriga (1994).

Jupiaba zonata

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Escobar-Camacho et al. (2015).

Moenkhausia aff. copei

FCD6C9BF-DCF9-58D0-BEE3-5F8FBE621DC0

Distribution

Amazonia, Orinoco.

Notes

Escobar-Camacho et al. (2015).

Moenkhausia cotinho

Eigenmann 1908

C18C3CD1-1C9D-538C-96D5-0764058C0353

Distribution

Amazonia

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004), Escobar-Camacho et al. (2015).

Moenkhausia cf. dichroura

E65C1181-6331-57F7-91DA-E4BA40CAF3FE

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Paraguay.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018), Tobes et al. (2022).

Moenkhausia grandisquamis

Müller & Troschel, 1845

890137DC-9E71-5A9C-8D48-07AB8AB2CE56

Géry 1973

59A51EFD-D315-590B-94B8-AEB246509268

Distribution

Amazonia.

Gymnotiformes

040C4A91-2E6A-53D2-8AE2-9B6B62711963

Apteronotidae

B7708595-A42B-58B8-A3A2-D1E0BBFB58FE

Adontosternarchus balaenops

(Cope 1878)

6012CA95-2E9D-541B-AB60-9E1078ED3D73

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Adontosternarchus clarkae

Mago-Leccia, Lundberg & Baskin 1985

448E96FC-3367-58B8-B6AD-FD0CAAEE15AF

Distribution

Amazonia, Orinoco.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Apteronotus albifrons

(Linnaeus 1766)

DE3056C8-1DF9-5771-AC82-82730C0505C5

26482C58-8F13-5CF9-AC72-87E66B633181

Distribution

Western Amazonia, larger rivers.

Sternarchorhynchus curvirostris

(Boulenger 1887)

0D18DAC5-D749-5746-BD34-06CAB01AC91C

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, north-eastern Peru.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Sternarchorhynchus cf. oxyrhynchus

B39700DE-A51B-55FA-AC21-030CDB9D6F7B

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages.

Sternopygidae

F5D42BF1-3067-5896-8557-DFCBD7B370AA

Distocyclus conirostris

(Eigenmann & Allen 1942)

7AE330C3-60E0-5FF8-B968-936F0DB45CE0

Distribution

Amazonia, Orinoco.

Eigenmannia cf. limbata

498E12E1-71A8-5690-965B-536C3FE39776

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Eigenmannia cf. virescens

FB06BCEC-F309-57DF-9B05-E98D04BE8E94

Widespread Amazonia, western piedmont tributaries to main channel.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Gymnotus sp. 1

E93E82A7-21A9-52FB-8895-85236BB22A73

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Tambococha ravine.

Hypopomidae

615F5061-1C92-5375-B51A-DB18E678DF9A

Brachyhypopomus beebei

(Schultz 1944)

04DE6B0A-A857-57CB-8F26-032DB58B84E0

33DB6526-C8FE-5535-A3EF-68DE35864FC1

Gymnorhamphichthys hypostomus

Ellis 1912

EABA97B2-9E60-5137-9DE3-41C3859D582A

Distribution

Western Amazonia, Orinoco.

0DCC9536-CDD1-5C4E-8DD9-966B02B41803

Trichomycteridae

F18B5BDF-EE3B-5CC2-A8EA-03674CA140B0

Henonemus punctatus

(Boulenger 1887)

90310CAC-FD72-5FE5-9B3F-9CDA8F2EB8F7

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Barriga (2011).

Ochmacanthus reinhardtii

(Steindachner 1882)

8C2DE36D-2EE5-5192-B841-BD3F8A1256AF

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages.

Ochmacanthus sp. 1

80294CC9-DEA1-559E-82C8-A1A980B656A1

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Yasuni River, confluence with Jatuncocha River.

Paracanthopoma parva

Giltay 1935

A0B7C9E1-EB7D-5A83-B795-16B79A450CAB

Distribution

Amazonia.

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Vandellia cirrhosa

Valenciennes 1846

96FB7436-721C-59DB-ACFD-08B9D7DA55F4

Distribution

Widespread Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (2011).

Callichthyidae

542466DB-DB1A-56D2-B10D-879F4F9706FF

Brochis ambiacus

(Cope 1872)

F879F234-B5F0-5A6D-996B-FD1B900DA894

Upper Amazon.

Hoplisoma trilineatum

(Cope 1872)

2BF615E9-4A96-55BF-A7CA-D3574985CF0C

53E4681F-9404-553E-8695-1F562686C5E0

Ancistrus alga

(Cope 1872)

6817ADF9-1B86-5D62-B485-1FF13F8BC0A1

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages, Paraguay.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Ancistrus malacops

Eastern Ecuador, Yasuní River, confluence with Jatuncocha River.

Notes

Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Hypostomus ericius

Distribution

South-western Amazon.

Hypostomus sp. 1

CBC33A18-E148-5A9B-A524-E266E263A8A9

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, pond Sachacocha, affluent of Jatuncocha River.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Lamontichthys filamentosus

(LaMonte 1935)

A5FE89DA-BDCB-5962-8802-844C43AA2A11

Distribution

Western Amazonia.

Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Loricaria simillima

Regan 1904

B7D6FC4B-D9E2-5334-BBCF-B888299E90A5

Galacatos et al. (2004), Barriga (2011).

Otocinclus macrospilus

Eigenmann & Allen 1942

FC356970-4F5B-562D-8DFF-045D638053EF

Distribution

Amazonia.

(Boulenger 1898)

E52A7CF6-C48C-5684-950A-3FDCEC9074F1

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Peckoltia furcata

(Fowler 1940)

CEF08B02-CA5A-5983-AEC1-86F1A8C1E9B6

Barriga (1994).

Pseudohemiodon lamina

(Günther 1868)

A5AC4345-AC93-5295-8E49-04ED3FEAA0B9

0DC3A0CD-73A1-5502-AECB-A5832F99032B

Cetopsis candiru

Spix & Agassiz 1829

AF6086AC-E50F-587C-ADCD-81C964EEFB6F

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (2011).

Cetopsis coecutiens

(Lichtenstein 1819)

4B4EAB36-9BA1-5646-80AD-9F3277AC5AFB

Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Aspredinidae

24FA65C7-4075-5B13-9C70-3D9424DAD7D8

Bunocephalus coracoideus

(Cope 1874)

436E297E-B9B1-5D0B-BDAF-10B08014248E

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Ernstichthys intonsus

Stewart 1985

FC7FBFE3-6563-5722-8EA1-8BA3FD7EF2A0

Distribution

Napo Basin, Ecuador.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Micromyzon akamai

Friel & Lundberg 1996

18E33B4D-AEF7-53A3-B2F9-A7004BC0D2DC

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004).

Pterobunocephalus depressus

(Haseman 1911)

2ADEBAC0-628E-59A4-9DC3-FF8FC7B58F93

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Paraguay Basins.

Xyliphius lepturus

Orcés V. 1962

A7B9885F-E4B6-5F24-88B8-80526ACC4740

Distribution

Upper Amazon, Orinoco.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Xyliphius melanopterus

Orcés V. 1962

6B25B5F8-4EE4-59F9-92E6-2125BCF0C068

Amazonia.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Auchenipterus ambyiacus

Fowler 1915

1E456934-9012-506C-8B67-CB6F38C7528F

Distribution

Upper and middle Amazon, plus northern drainages.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Auchenipterus brachyurus

(Cope 1878)

E3A0BAC8-964B-5966-9811-4CCA42EE3DFE

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

(Eigenmann & Eigenmann 1888)

9E9BC678-06D5-5AB6-9B2B-09BA7067349A

Distribution

Amazon, Essequibo.

Agamyxis pectinifrons

(Cope 1870)

8DC46A5A-F34C-5F05-B6BB-7DF21E477127

Distribution

Amazonia.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Amblydoras affinis

(Kner 1855)

DB40CE7C-E2CF-56C9-8406-0965DD9F29AD

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Amblydoras monitor

(Cope 1872)

ECADD65C-A3C1-5A0A-92A3-4D8D637B38FE

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Amblydoras nauticus

(Cope 1874)

50A2FEEF-76A6-5BBA-A9FC-996A4CD72568

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Anadoras grypus

Napo River Basin, at the locality of Pompeya, sandy island in centre of river.

Megalodoras uranoscopus

(Eigenmann & Eigenmann 1888)

07D9B5DA-9357-56B9-B935-7D2CF020AAF8

Distribution

Amazon, Essequibo.

Nemadoras elongatus

Distribution

Amazon, Guianas, Paraná.

Tenellus cf. ternetzi

B3D66061-B295-531A-AAD3-7E425BCAE568

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo.

Tenellus trimaculatus

(Boulenger 1898)

91BCD401-110B-5477-BC5C-53BA9DC05C8C

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Gladioglanis conquistador

Lundberg, Bornbusch & Mago-Leccia 1991

EEDCE469-D479-5BF5-8F09-B268A901BA71

A9EEE5C1-2EB9-508F-99DC-E03153120E96

Distribution

Laguna Azul, near the confluence of the Chambira and Tiputini Rivers.

Pariolius armillatus

Cope 1872

4902832C-0050-596D-A7F8-35AA4D260064

Distribution

Upper Amazon.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Pimelodella aff. gracilis

1A274FC5-D3ED-54F5-9871-0411C0427285

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, La Plata.

Pimelodella lateristriga

(Lichtenstein 1823)

47BB065F-FBB3-5596-A213-6608E83DF2DC

Distribution

Southern Amazon.

Notes

Tobes et al. (2022).

06039065-FE47-5673-BD20-A18AC5131523

Aguarunichthys torosus

Stewart 1986

0444281E-989F-5018-B2D0-06F396762825

Distribution

Amazon River drainage (Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia).

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

(Lichtenstein 1819)

1A083AAD-2114-5275-9DBB-D693D6D4BB11

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), WCS (2007), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Cheirocerus eques

Eigenmann 1917

4A3B002E-62A1-5132-98BA-ABE36755D30F

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004).

Hypophthalmus edentatus

Spix & Agassiz 1829

5EB5B24B-901C-58D1-A4FE-04359D218FBF

Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Pimelodus jivaro

Eigenmann & Pearson 1942

C965D5AC-7729-506D-BEEA-6B61852A6166

Distribution

Upper Amazon of Ecuador, Peru.

Pimelodus ornatus

Kner 1858

D03EC88E-B144-5A60-BA54-F892CEF7F5A6

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages, Paraná.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Pimelodus pictus

Steindachner 1876

E08877BA-8E8D-54AC-A0FB-964D7561DE86

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Pimelodus sp. 1

32A71FA1-E509-5F3F-8758-C6AE0937E86F

Littmann, Burr & Buitrago-Suárez 2001

787E2F7C-947A-59C7-A246-1DDB3705D2A0

Distribution

Middle, upper Amazon.

Zungaro zungaro

(Humboldt 1821)

75C7313E-7E81-511A-BDEA-5A97C29072AD

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco.

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Pseudopimelodidae

3B6740AD-6C54-57B3-989F-38FA0B8E4D1C

Batrochoglanis villosus

(Eigenmann 1912)

86CBFD8C-2183-581C-9FC5-C227E17E800F

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo.

Microglanis pellopterygius

Mees 1978

B4008389-C6EA-5CDC-895A-A4D545E26255

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador.

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Cichlidae

C5536AC0-B1CB-5418-A15F-CC5CBEB319F3

Cichliformes

4AD763CD-9035-5E23-9BBB-CAC96FD78B24

A1278325-5A74-5373-A743-154CC388CCF9

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador, Jatuncocha Lake.

Astronotus ocellatus

(Agassiz 1831)

5AAE1CBF-25DE-5789-8AB2-7518F746EE57

Barriga (1994), Barriga (2011).

Bujurquina syspilus

Distribution

Western Amazonia.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Cichlasoma cf. amazonarum

878A171B-7D7A-5CBD-9DD8-588A8B7B2D61

Distribution

Western Amazonia, plus northern drainages.

Notes

Barriga (2011).

Crenicara punctulata

(Günther 1863)

A659E773-237F-590E-BD80-FBED62482A66

Distribution

Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Essequibo.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013).

Crenicichla sedentaria

Kullander 1986

E7F86915-4E4A-5924-B241-23D242865BC6

Distribution

Upper Amazon of Ecuador, Peru.

Heroina isonycterina

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages.

Mesonauta cf. insignis

CB84C596-611F-5A27-A708-C9732637332D

Distribution

Amazon River and Orinoco River Basins (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela).

Notes

Barriga (1994).

Mesonauta mirificus

0834B6B7-B898-5B11-9F82-419AF3A3356D

Anablepsoides erberi

(Berkenkamp 1989)

95C84EE3-DF00-532E-8F7F-6965D483669A

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador.

Anablepsoides limoncochae

(Hoedeman 1962)

760DAFAE-A75D-5B1F-89E2-EC32D3E017D2

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador.

Notes

Galacatos et al. (2004).

Anablepsoides urophthalmus

(Günther 1866)

F088D3F7-44D2-5803-A430-CF86BEF45638

Distribution

Amazon.

35135C71-661E-53B9-8D64-AC47593C144F

Sciaenidae

795ABA35-B5B6-585E-8DF2-D2A80F4104A3

Pachyurus stewarti

Casatti & Chao 2002

C2D60AE7-E1B8-575E-87CD-CE0BAB3329F0

Distribution

Eastern Ecuador.

Notes

Barriga (2011).

Plagioscion squamosissimus

(Heckel 1840)

38068855-338C-57EF-931F-8836754B9948

Distribution

Amazon, plus northern drainages, Paraguay, Paraná.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), WCS (2007), Barriga (2011), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete (2013), Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. (2018), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Tetraodontiformes

D6B77281-E322-5098-B230-3DFC1EE22B85

Tetraodontidae

2132BC0A-82B6-5FCF-9C6F-653A35787A89

Sphoeroides asellus

(Müller & Troschel 1849)

2DED85FB-5461-549F-896A-30D9E97CEE81

Distribution

Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo.

Notes

Barriga (1994), Galacatos et al. (2004), Guarderas and Jácome-Negrete (2013), Jácome-Negrete et al. (2018).

Analysis

Fish species in YNP span 13 orders, 47 families, 239 genera and 458 species (Fig. 3). Characiformes and Siluriformes contributed the most to species richness (43% and 38%, respectively). These are followed by Cichliformes and Gymnotiformes. The richest families in YNP are Loricariidae and Acestrorhamphidae (Figs 3, 4). Additionally, 23 families each account for at least 1% of the total fish richness (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. — Species richness by order (A) and family (B), where frequency represents the proportion of unique species from each order or family in the database.

Figure 4. — Examples of species from Yasuní National Park denoting their morphological and phylogenetic diversity. A *Ancistrusmalacops* (*Loricariidae*); B *Carnegiellastrigata* (*Gasteropelecidae*); C *Serrasalmusrhombeus* (*Serrasalmidae*); D *Bujurquinamoriorum* (*Cichlidae*); E *Calophysusmacropterus* (*Pimelodidae*); F *Gymnotuscarapo* (*Gymnotidae*); G *Anablepsoideslimoncochae* (*Rivulidae*); H *Hypoclinemusmentalis* (*Achiridae*); I *Synbranchusmarmoratus* (*Synbranchidae*); J *Hypostomushemicochliodon* (*Loricariidae*); K *Mylossomaalbiscopum* (*Serrasalmidae*). Photos: courtesy of José Vieira (https://www.ex-situphotography.com/).

The updated list more than doubles the previous YNP inventory (Barriga 1994) and accounts for 70% of the known fish species in the Napo Basin and 21.9% of the entire Amazon Basin (Jézéquel et al. 2020). The fish richness in YNP surpasses that of other Amazonian reserves of comparable or larger size (Table 1). This underscores Yasuní as a biodiversity hotspot specifically for fishes, which represent the second most species-rich vertebrate group in YNP after birds (Bass et al. 2010).

Table 1.

Fish richness from different protected areas of the Amazon Basin.

Protected Area	Area (km²)	# Species	Reference
Yasuní National Park (YNP)	9,823	458	This study
Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), Brazil	11,137	340	Queiroz and Peralta (2010)
Tumucumaque National Park, Brazil	38,867	207	Bernard (2008)
Jau National Park, Brazil	22,720	320	IUCN (2000)
Madidi National Park, Bolivia	18,958	333	National-Parks (2022)
Manu National Park, Peru	17,162.95	201	Parques-Nacionales (2019)
La Paya National Natural Park, Colombia	4,401	230	Peña Alzáte et al. (2020)

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Discussion

Our study added 205 species to the 253 previously listed by Barriga (1994) for the YNP, representing an 80% increase in species richness. This substantial increase is primarily attributed to a significant expansion of the sampling area, encompassing zones that were not included in the Barriga (1994) list. These additional data were obtained through collection campaigns conducted by MEPN (e.g. Barriga (2011)), samplings in the Cononaco and Curaray Rivers in 2014, unpublished data), MECN (Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. 2018) and USFQ (Swing 2017). Other contributing factors include the description of new species in the YNP (Provenzano-Rizzi and Barriga-Salazar 2020, Provenzano-Rizzi et al. 2024), new records (Chuctaya et al. 2021, Chuctaya et al. 2023), increased collections from environmental consulting activities, taxonomic re-identifications and curatorial activities involving the biological collections analysed in the present study.

Our results also align with the common structure of the Neotropical ichthyofauna, characterised by the dominance of ostariophysan fishes (Sleen and Albert 2018). Characiform species showed the highest percentage, followed by Siluriformes. This proportional dominance at the order level has also been observed in other inventories conducted in areas surrounding the YNP, such as the Upper Napo River Basin (Anaguano-Yancha and Cueva 2016), Cuyabeno (Barriga et al. 2016) and the Pastaza River Basin (Rivadeneira et al. 2010). Similar patterns have been reported in other regions of the western (Meza-Vargas et al. 2021), central (Oliveira et al. 2020) and lower Amazon (Fróis et al. 2021).

This pattern extends to the family level, with Loricariidae (55 species) and Acestrorhamphidae (52 species) being the most species-rich families. Loricariidae has long been amongst the most diverse families, historically ranking second in species richness (Roxo et al. 2019). However, taxonomic revisions splitting Acestrorhamphidae, Characidae and Stevardiidae from the broader Characidae (Melo et al. 2024) have elevated Loricariidae to the top position. The high species richness of Loricariidae reflects significant lineage and ecological diversification (Lujan et al. 2012), whereas the diversity of characiform families, widely distributed across the Neotropics (Reis et al. 2003, Albert and Reis 2011), results from habitat shifts, morphological diversification and trophic niche adaptations (Guisande et al. 2012). Furthermore, high relative diversity of Cichlidae (29) and Pimelodidae (28) coincides with diversity patterns described in the Upper Amazon (Dagosta and Pinna 2019, Meza-Vargas et al. 2021). Although these patterns in the YNP coincide with others previously recorded in the region, a comparative analysis between its extension and the recorded species shows a greater concentration of diversity per area in relation to other historically diverse protected areas, such as Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve with 34% more species or even with areas that quadruple its extension, such as Tumucumaque National Park registering 120% greater fish richness (Table 1).

The extraordinary fish diversity in YNP results from multiple ecological and biogeographic factors. First, the convergence of white- and black-water rivers in the YNP support distinct fish communities typical of sediment-rich white waters and tannin-rich black waters (Bogotá-Gregory et al. 2020). This area has been categorised as one of the ecoregions with the highest density of fish species in the Neotropics (Albert and Reis 2011). Second, major rivers in this area have been historically shaped by shifting connections and isolations fostering diversification of fish assemblages (Albert et al. 2006, Londoño-Burbano and Britto 2023). Finally, the YNP’s connection to central Amazonia likely facilitates extensive sympatric diversification in the western Amazon (Wesselingh and Carina 2011, Londoño-Burbano and Britto 2023). Remarkably, the updated list for YNP reports no introduced species, highlighting it as one of Ecuador’s few protected areas where native fish populations remain unthreatened by the impacts of exotic species (Aguirre et al. 2021). This underscores the importance of conservation efforts in YNP, which provide ecosystem services such as maintenance of biodiversity and provision of food security (Berlin and Markell 1977, Dufour 1983, Sirén 2011).

The Park’s fish diversity reflects a wide range of ecologies, morphologies and life history traits (Fig. 4). Indigenous communities depend on at least 72 species for consumption, trade and medicinal uses, with large predatory pimelodids being particularly favoured (García-Dávila et al. 2013, García-Dávila et al. 2018, Duponchelle 2021). Conservation concerns include 19 threatened species in YNP, many of which are heavily exploited by artisanal fisheries (Fig. 5) (Escobar-Camacho 2024).

Figure 5. — Examples of species exploited in artisanal fisheries for livelihoods and food security in Yasuní National Park. A *Prochilodusnigricans* (*Prochilodontidae*); B *Platynematichthysnotatus* (*Pimelodidae*); C *Aguarunichthystorosus* (*Pimelodidae*); D *Brachyplatystomatigrinum* (*Pimelodidae*); E *Pseudoplatystomafasciatum* (*Pimelodidae*); F *Potamotrygonmotoro* (*Potamotrygonidae*); G *Zungarozungaro* (*Pimelodidae*); H *Pterodorasgranulosus* (*Doradidae*). Photos: courtesy of Kelly Swing (A, B, C and D), Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera (F, G and H) and Daniel Escobar-Camacho (E).

Most fish collections from MEPN and MECN-DP (Fig. 6) are concentrated in medium to large rivers such as the Napo, Tiputini, Yasuní and Shiripuno, leaving the southern interior of YNP under-sampled. Given the high ichthyological diversity across rivers, forest streams, and lagoons of the northern area of YNP (Ibarra and Stewart 1989, Bojsen and Barriga 2002, Galacatos et al. 2004), identifying these sampling gaps is crucial for understanding migration, reproduction and feeding patterns (Duponchelle 2021). Expanding surveys in these areas may document species recorded outside YNP or refine distribution knowledge of species already present. This has been evident in studies of northern YNP, where cryptic diversity and rediscovered species have been reported (Escobar-Camacho et al. 2015, Provenzano-Rizzi and Barriga-Salazar 2020, Valdiviezo-Rivera et al. 2021, Říčan et al. 2023).

Figure 6. — Yasuní National Park and sampling sites based on records from MEPN and MECN-DP.

Beyond geographic sampling limitations, species lists for large regions like the western Amazon are further complicated by cryptic diversity,rare species and behavioural adaptations. Small-bodied or elusive species often evade detection, requiring targeted efforts for confirmation (Swing et al. 2014). Some species are rarely captured due to habitat preferences or migration patterns, as seen in recent rediscoveries like Rhyacoglanispulcher and Micromyzonakamai in the Curaray River Basin (Chuctaya et al. 2021, Chuctaya et al. 2023). Large species also present sampling challenges, though evidence, such as drifting larvae of large pimelodids in the Napo River (Hermann et al. 2021), confirms their presence. Similarly, migratory siluriforms such as Aguarunichthystorosus and Pterodorasgranulosus (Fig. 5), while absent from museum collections, frequently appear in nearby markets, indicating their likely presence in the study area.

The intent of this list is to provide a baseline for future studies that would use this information to develop hypotheses and better understand fish diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This list is also intended to provide basic information to the scientific community and society at large so that adequate measures may be applied for the conservation of these natural resources and the maintenance of genetic diversity.

Conclusions

By compiling curated datasets, we developed an updated list of freshwater fish species in YNP, doubling species richness compared to previous lists. This list represents 70% of the Napo River Basin’s known species and 20% of the Amazon Basin’s. Our results highlight the ecological and cultural importance of YNP, including its provision of services to indigenous communities and the threats several species face from anthropogenic disturbances. We identify under-sampled habitats requiring further study and underscore the need for preserving YNP’s biodiversity and ecosystem services. This list aims to support future research, management and conservation efforts.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank José R. Daza for his help in making the map figures and to José Vieira and Esteban Suárez for providing images used in the figures.

References

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PERMALINK

Exceptional concentration of fish diversity in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador (Napo River Basin)

Daniel Escobar-Camacho

Jonathan Valdiviezo-Rivera

Carolina Carrillo-Moreno

Pablo Argüello

Kelly Swing

Roles

Abstract

Background

New information

Introduction

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Materials and methods

Data resources

Checklists

Fish Species Checklist of Yasuni National Park

Myliobatiformes

Potamotrygonidae

Plesiotrygon iwamae

Distribution

Notes

Potamotrygon motoro

Distribution

Notes

Potamotrygon scobina

Distribution

Osteoglossiformes

Osteoglossidae

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

Distribution

Notes

Arapaimidae

Arapaima cf. gigas f. cf.

Distribution

Notes

Clupeiformes

Engraulidae

Anchoviella alleni

Distribution

Notes

Anchoviella sp. 1

Distribution

Lycengraulis batesii

Distribution

Notes

Pristigasteridae

Ilisha amazonica

Distribution

Notes

Pellona castelnaeana

Distribution

Notes

Pristigaster cayana

Distribution

Notes

Pristigaster whiteheadi

Distribution

Notes

Characiformes

Crenuchidae

Characidium boehlkei

Distribution

Notes

Characidium etheostoma

Distribution

Notes

Characidium geryi

Distribution

Characidium purpuratum

Distribution

Characidium steindachneri

Distribution

Notes

Characidium sp. 1

Distribution

Notes

Elachocharax pulcher

Distribution