Geophagus brokopondo

Crenicichla celidochilus cool-period: before and during

Young female at 76º

During cool-period at 60º

not a bad place to live

E.D.B.

In the Lab

Caddisfly larvae (Philopotamidae)

Gymnogeophagus pharyngeal tooth plate
Leporinus cf. amae

Bryconamericus iheringie
Crenicichla minuano, minus a muscle sample
frozen Crenicichla celidochilus
frozen block of Crenicichla
Taking muscle samples

E.D.B.

The Crenicichla of Uruguay

The following is a brief photolog of the eight pike cichlids (Crenicichla) found in Uruguay. The species are organized into their respective species-groups (per Kullander et al. 2010).

Southern Species Group

Crenicichla vittata: potentially the largest species of pike cichlid, they are endemic to the Rio Uruguay drainage. They are typically restricted to the Rio Uruguay but can be found in the lower portions of large tributaries.

Crenicichla scottii: Found in both the Rio Uruguay drainage and in the southern coastal drainages of Uruguay. 

Crenicichla punctata: Found in eastern coastal drainages of Uruguay (and southern Brasil). Their distribution along the coast does not overlap with C. scottii.

saxatilis-Species Group

Crenicichla cf. lepidota: Found in the Rio Uruguay drainage (main river and tributaries). The relationship to true C. lepidota from Bolivia is uncertain.

Crenicichla cf. saxatilis: Found in the coastal drainages (southern and eastern) of Uruguay. The relationship to true C. saxatilis from Suriname is uncertain. 


If interested, you can read a photo journal about the saxatilis-species group of Uruguay and see photographs of several different populations here.

missioneira-Species Group

This species-group is endemic to the Rio Uruguay drainage and closely related.

Crenicichla missioneira 

Crenicichla minuano  

 C. missioneira (Left) and C. minuano (Right) are superficially similar, however they can be readily distinguished based on snout length and lower jaw protrusion.

Crenicichla tendybaguassu 

C. tendybaguassu is also superficially similar in coloration and pattern to C. missioneira and C. minuano, however they can be distinguished by the well-developed lips.

Crenicichla celidochilus: Only found in middle and upper portions of tributaries to the middle and upper Rio Uruguay (in Uruguay and Brasil). 

If interested, you can read a short write-up about C. celidochilus here.

E.D.B.

Underwater video of Crenicichla missioneira

I shot this video in November 2010 in the Rio Cuareim. These adolescent Crenicichla missioneira were searching for invertebrates amongst the rocks. 

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Underwater video of Characidium tenue

I shot this video November 2010 in the Rio Cuareim. Characidium tenue were common amongst the rocks.

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Underwater video of Crenicichla tendybaguassu

I shot this video November 2010 in the Rio Cuareim. C. tendybaguassu has not been officially documented in Uruguay.

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Underwater video of Gymnogeophagus aff. meridionalis foraging

I shot this video March 2010 in Arroyo de la Invernada (the headwaters of the Rio Cuareim). G. meridionalis occur in the Rio Uruguay and in the lower and middle Rio Cuareim, but here in the headwaters there appears to be a transition to a different species (so I refer to them as G. aff. meridionalis). 

To compare, you can view the true G. meridionalis in the lower Rio Cuareim here

E.D.B.

Underwater video of Australoheros facetus with fry

I shot this video November 2010 in Arroyo Catalancito (a tributary to the Rio Cuareim). Australoheros were breeding frequently, throughout the north of Uruguay. They appear to be dedicated parents, some pairs were tending 1.5cm fry.

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Underwater video of Gymnogeophagys cf. gymnogenys pair with eggs

I shot this video November 2010 in the Rio Cuareim. The pair were tending eggs laid on a rock, near the bank in 30cm of water. Over the course of an hour the female buried the eggs in sediment/silt. The male left and the female periodically came back to check on the clutch.

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Underwater video of Gymnogeophagus meridionalis pair

I shot this video November 2010 in the Rio Cuareim. The pair were defending wrigglers that were in a pit in the sediment, near a large stump. They were near the bank, where the water was 40cm deep. Gymnogeophagus cf. gymnogenys and Australoheros facetus were also breeding nearby.

E.D.B.