Moema (fish)

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Moema
Moema juanderibaensis holotype.jpg
Holotype of Moema juanderibaensis [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Rivulidae
Genus: Moema
W. J. E. M. Costa, 1989
Type species
Moema piriana
Costa, 1989 [2]
Synonyms

AphyolebiasCosta, 1998

Moema is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are mostly restricted to the Amazon basin in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, but a few inhabit the upper Essequibo basin in Guyana, upper Orinoco basin in Venezuela and upper Paraguay basin in Brazil. [3] [4] They inhabit temporary waters, such as swamps or ponds, in primary forests. Once the water disappears, the adults die, but the eggs that have been laid in the bottom remain, only hatching after 3–10 months when the water returns. [4] [5] They rapidly reach adult size, but generally only live a few months after hatching, although captives (not subjected to disappearing water) can live longer. [4] [5]

They are small fish, with the largest species up to 18 cm (7.1 in) in total length. [4]

Species

Moema was first described in 1989, having formerly been included in the Pterolebias . In 1998, it was suggested that several Moema species should be moved to their own genus, Aphyolebias. [6] Some, including FishBase, continue to recognize both Moema and Aphyolebias. [7] [8] The distinction between them is not well-defined and genetic studies have shown that Moema is paraphyletic if not including Aphyolebias, leading several authorities such as Catalog of Fishes to consider the latter a junior synonym of former. [3] [9] [10] [11]

According to Fishbase, there are currently 11 recognized species in this genus: [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Nothobranchius</i> Genus of fishes

Nothobranchius is a genus of small, freshwater killifish, classified in the family Nothobranchiidae in the order Cyprinodontiformes. There are about a hundred species in the genus, many with very small distributions. They are primarily native to East Africa from Sudan to northern South Africa, whereas a dozen species are found in the upper Congo River Basin; the greatest species richness is in Tanzania.

<i>Rivulus</i> Genus of fishes

Rivulus is a genus of small freshwater fish in the Cyprinodontiformes family Rivulidae. It was traditionally considered to be the largest genus in its family; however, the genus's size is currently in dispute. Wilson J. E. Costa split this genus into several new genera in 2004 and 2011, leaving only a few Greater Antillean species in Rivulus itself. Despite being moved to other genera, some of the species retain the common name "rivulus", like the well-known mangrove rivulus. Shortly after the review by Costa, another review authored by J.H. Huber refuted the split, moving the proposed genera back in Rivulus and again making the genus the largest in the family Aplocheilidae.

Aphyolebias is a genus of New World killifish from the family Rivulidae. Although this genus is recognised by Fishbase In 1998, it was suggested that several species from the genus Moema be moved to the new Aphyolebias. Genetic research has indicated that Moema is paraphyletic and monophyly is only established when it is merged with the genus Aphyolebias. The Catalog of Fishes records Aphyolebias as a synonym of Moema.

<i>Austrolebias</i> Genus of fishes

Austrolebias is a genus of killifish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish live in temporary pools, swamps and streams in the Río de la Plata, Patos–Mirim and Mamoré basins in South America.

Pterolebias zonatus is a species of fish in the family Aplocheilidae endemic to the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela where it is found in open waters exposed to sunlight. This species grows to a length of 10 cm (3.9 in). It is found in the aquarium trade. This species is often included in the genus Gnatholebias, of which it has been designated the type species. This species, and Pterlolebias hoignei, are rather distantly related to the other species in Pterolebias and some workers argue that their inclusion in that genus makes it paraphyletic.

<i>Hypsolebias</i> Genus of fishes

Hypsolebias is a genus of small fish in the family Rivulidae that are endemic the Caatinga, Cerrado and nearby regions in Brazil. The greatest richness is in the São Francisco River basin, but there are also species in the Tocantins, Jequitinhonha and Jaguaribe systems, as well as smaller river basins in northeastern Brazil. Like their relatives, Hypsolebias are annual killifish. The short-lived adults inhabit temporary waters like rain pools, laying their eggs in the bottom. As their habitat dries up the adults die, but the eggs survive and hatch when the water returns in the next season.

Maratecoara is a genus of killifish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to seasonal pools, swamps and lagoons in the upper Araguaia–Tocantins and middle Xingu river basins in Brazil. Most are from savanna regions, but M. gesmonei is from the Amazon rainforest.

<i>Melanorivulus</i> Genus of fishes

Melanorivulus is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Rivulidae. Most species are endemic to the Río de la Plata, eastern Amazon, Tocantins–Araguaia and São Francisco basins in Brazil, but a few members of this genus range west into Bolivia, south into Paraguay and Argentina, and east to Parnaíba and Sergipe in northeastern Brazil. Only M. schuncki occurs north of the Amazon River. They inhabit shallow waters, generally 5–30 cm (2–12 in) deep, at the margins of streams in open or fairly open habitats like the Cerrado or Cerrado–Amazon transition. Many have tiny ranges and are seriously threatened.

<i>Anablepsoides</i> Genus of fishes

Anablepsoides is a genus of killifish in the family Rivulidae native to tropical South America and the Lesser Antilles. The majority are from the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as freshwater systems in the Guiana Shield, but a few species are from northern Venezuela, northeastern Brazil and the Lesser Antilles. Although largely restricted to lowlands, a few species occur in the lower East Andean foothills. They are mostly found in shallow fresh water swamps, streams, edges of rivers, ponds and pools, but a few may occur in brackish estuaries. They are able to jump over land and breathe air for short periods, allowing them to access isolated waters inhabited by few or no other fish. Several Anablepsoides species have small distributions and some are seriously threatened by habitat loss; the entire known range of A. xinguensis is in the area flooded by the Belo Monte Dam.

Cynodonichthys is a genus of freshwater killifish in the family Rivulidae. They are found in Middle America, ranging from southern Mexico, through Central America, to Colombia. They are non-annual killifish and inhabit small forest streams from the lowlands to an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

<i>Laimosemion</i> Genus of fishes

Laimosemion is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae from the Amazon basin and basins in the Guiana Shield in tropical South America. They mostly inhabit small streams, creeks, swamps and pools in lowlands, but locally occur to an altitude of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).

<i>Neofundulus</i> Genus of fishes

Neofundulus is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to the Paraguay, Guaporé, Mamoré and São Francisco basins in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. They inhabit temporary waters, such as swamps or ponds, that typically are located in open habitats like grassland. Once the water disappears, the adults die, but the eggs that have been laid in the bottom remain, only hatching after several months when the water returns.

Papiliolebias is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to seasonal pools in the Paraguay and upper Madeira river basins in northwestern Argentina, central and southeastern Bolivia, and western Paraguay.

Pituna is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to seasonal pools, swamps and lagoons in the Araguaia–Tocantins, Xingu, uppermost Paraná and Paranaíba river basins in Brazil. Most are from savanna regions, but P. xinguensis is from the Amazon rainforest.

<i>Plesiolebias</i> Genus of fishes

Plesiolebias is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to seasonal pools, swamps and lagoons in the Araguaia–Tocantins, Xingu, and uppermost Paraguay (Pantanal) river basins in Brazil.

Pterolebias is a genus of killifish from the family Rivulidae which are native to temporary swamps and ponds in South America. It includes two groups, which sometimes are regarded as separate genera: Pterolebias from the southern Amazon and Paraguay river basins, and Gnatholebias from the Orinoco river basin.

Stenolebias is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These relatively rare annual killifish are endemic to seasonal waters in the Pantanal in Brazil.

Trigonectes is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to the Paraguay, upper Madeira and Tocantins basins in far northern Argentina, Bolivia, central Brazil and western Paraguay. They inhabit seasonal swamp, pools and similar habitats in open regions. Once the water disappears, the adults die, but the eggs that have been laid in the bottom remain, only hatching after several months when the water returns.

Xenurolebias is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to temporary pools in the Atlantic forest near the coast in southeast Bahia and Espírito Santo, Brazil.

<i>Spectrolebias</i> Genus of fishes

Spectrolebias is a genus of killifish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are endemic to seasonal waters in the Paraguay, Tocantins–Araguaia, Xingu and Mamoré–Grande basins in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. Each species generally has a small distribution and some are seriously threatened by habitat loss; the entire known range of S. reticulatus is in the area flooded by the Belo Monte Dam.

References

  1. Heinz Arno Drawert (21 November 2022). "A new species of the seasonal killifish genus Moema (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Piraí watershed in the Southwest Amazon basin". Neotropical Ichthyology . SciELO Brasil. 20 (4). doi:10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0067. ISSN   1679-6225. Wikidata   Q116435259.
  2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Moema". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Moema". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Vermeulen, F. "The genus Moema, Costa 1989". itrainsfishes.net. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  5. 1 2 Vermeulen, F. "The genus Aphyolebias, Garman, 1895". itrainsfishes.net. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  6. Costa, W.J.E.M. (1998). "Phylogeny and classification of Rivulidae revisited: evolution of annualism and miniaturization in rivulid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei)". Journal of Comparative Biology. 3: 33–92.
  7. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2018). Species of Moema in FishBase . November 2018 version.
  8. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2018). Species of Aphyolebias in FishBase . November 2018 version.
  9. Costa, W.J.E.M. (2014). "Phylogeny and evolutionary radiation in seasonal rachovine killifishes: biogeographical and taxonomical implications". Vertebrate Zoology. 64 (2): 177–192. doi: 10.3897/vz.64.e31478 .
  10. 1 2 3 Valdesalici, S., Nielsen, D.T.B. & Pillet, D. (2015): Moema beucheyi (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), a new annual killifish from the Río Madeira basin, Bolivian Amazon. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 21 (3): 128-135.
  11. Valdesalici, S. (2016): Moema kenwoodi – a new annual killifish from the Madre de Dios river drainage, Peruvian Amazon (Teleostei: Rivulidae). Journal of the American Killifish Association, 48 (3): 66-72.