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Geohistory and Taxonomic BackGround Information
The Amazon Basin
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Fish Classification
The freshwater Amazonian gamefishes in this article, as organized
by ichthyologists, are all members of the Class Osteichthyes or
bony fishes. This group includes all fishes that have evolved in
freshwater as well as the majority of saltwater species. Fishes
of similar anatomical characteristics within this differentiation, are
grouped in Orders. Within each order, closely related fishes are
further subdivided into Families. The two-part scientific name then
specifies the even finer separation into Genus and individual Species. |
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Important Amazon Fish Orders
ORDER PERCIFORMES
cichlids
ORDER CHARACIFORMES
characins
OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES
osteoglossids
ORDER SILURIFORMES
catfishes
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The Amazon basin and its surrounding
drainage is home to about 3000 freshwater fish species, almost a third
of all the freshwater fish species that exist in the entire world.
The aquarium trade has long found some its most beautiful, interesting
and exotic specimens here. This extraordinary aquatic biodiversity
has also created the richest freshwater sport fishery in existence.
What the aquarist has long known, the sportfisherman is just now discovering.
The adventurous angler will find no harder fighting or more exciting gamefish
anywhere in the world.
Amazonian fish species evolved from an ancient
line of groups that were already established over 200 million years ago
(they have changed little since this time). The most commonly accepted
theory regarding these Amazon species is that their precursors evolved
during a period when what is now South America, Africa, southern Asia and
Australia were a single continent called Gondwanaland. Upon the separation
of these continents, these mutual ancestors then evolved independently.
Today, although the history of this relationship between the Amazonian,
African and Australian fishes remains evident, their modern descendents
have speciated into thousands of endemic varieties.
The majority of Amazonian gamefish belong
to three large groups (Orders): the catfishes (Siluriformes); the characins,
including dorado, payara and pirapitinga (Characiformes) and the cichlids
including the king of all freshwater gamefish, the peacock bass (Perciformes).
Several fish families from other orders also contribute to the Amazon's
gamefish variety such as the osteoglossidae (the aruana and the immense
pirarucú), as well as groups with salt-water origins such as the
sardinata (apapá), and the pescada (corvina), a freshwater drum.
The list of Amazonian freshwater gamefish
is as extensive and exotic as the land itself. Depending upon the
region, there are as many as twenty different species that will take a
fly or lure - often with strange names and peculiar appearances to match
their fighting prowess. |
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Gondwanaland
Definition: A hypothetical supercontinent made
up of South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent.
Presumed to have existed from 300 to 200 million years ago until
separated by continental drift.
History: In 1912 a German scientist, Alfred
Wegener, was the first person to put forth the concept that the continents
were joined at one time in the geologic past. He postulated a single
great landmass, Pangaea. Later theorists describe the separation,
late in the Triassic Period (245 to 208 million years ago), between the
southern landmass, Gondwanaland, and Laurasia to the north.
Significant geologic, paleobiological and current biological
evidence for the land connection between the currently separated southern
continents exists. Some examples include the occurrence of tillites
(glacial deposits) from the time between the Carboniferous and Permian
periods, and the existence of similar and unique floras and faunas that
are not found in the Northern Hemisphere. Rock strata containing
this matching evidence are found in the Karroo System in South Africa,
the Gondwana System in India, and the Santa Catharina System in South America. |
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...An Important Note...
Catch and Release - Almost every single fish pictured in this
article and throughout our website was safely returned to the water after
being photographed. On rare occasions, a specimen may be injured
or selected for our table. We never sacrifice rare or large specimens.
We firmly believe in catch and release fishing and we do everything in
our power to preserve and protect the remarkable natural wonders that it
is our privilege to enjoy.
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For more information about
available fishing trips for peacock bass, payara or other exotic species, contact
us , Toll-free, at;
Paul Reiss:
- 866 832-2987 - E-Mail Paul Reiss - or:
Garry Reiss:
- 866 431-1668 - E-Mail Garry Reiss
We are pleased
to be able to arrange trips to the right place at the right time, anywhere
in the world, with the most reputable, professional outfitters. References
are available upon request.
Copyright © 2008 Paul Reiss
All Rights Reserved
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