New species of cloud fish is discovered in the Pantanal Alexandre Cunha Ribeiro A small temporary pool in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso revealed a great discovery for science. Researchers have identified a new species of cloudfish, named Spectrolebias pantanalensis, found in the Poconé region (MT), in the upper Paraguay River basin. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram The study, published in the scientific magazine Zootaxa, officially describes the species and expands knowledge about a group of fish adapted to living in environments that only exist during part of the year. Until then, the species closest to the new fish were only known in Bolivia and Paraguay. With the discovery, Brazil becomes part of the distribution of this group. "It is an important discovery for Brazilian science. It proves that we have a very high biodiversity of freshwater fish, considered the largest in the world, but which still needs to be studied further. We need to know our biodiversity better", says biologist and fish specialist Telton Ramos, one of the authors of the study. See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: DISGUISE: New species of fly can live among 1 million wasps without being attacked WARM UP: Why are penguins changing their breeding calendar in Antarctica? DISGUISE: How this beetle can 'trick' an entire colony of termites A life that depends on rain Cloudfish live in temporary pools formed during the rainy season. When the water dries up, the adults complete their life cycle, but leave the eggs buried in the soil. These eggs remain protected for months, resisting drought until the rains return and the puddles form again. It is precisely this strategy that allows the species to survive in environments that disappear every year. Because of this direct relationship with the arrival of rain, these animals became popularly known as cloud fish. Female Spectrolebias pantanalensis Alexandre Cunha Ribeiro "The life cycle of cloud fish is unique in nature and represents an excellent adaptation to survive in temporary environments. They produce highly resistant eggs, which are buried at the bottom of the lakes when there is still water. After these lakes dry, the eggs remain in the soil and can survive for years. Some experts believe that they can survive for up to four years", explains Ramos. According to the researcher, when the rain returns and the lagoon fills again, the eggs hatch and a new population is established in that environment. See what's highlighted in g1:
New species of cloud fish is discovered in the Pantanal
New species of cloud fish is discovered in the Pantanal Alexandre Cunha Ribeiro A small temporary pool in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso revealed a great discovery for science. Researchers have identified a new species of...
A fish exclusive to the Pantanal Spectrolebias pantanalensis was found in a set of temporary pools about 50 centimeters deep, in the drainage of the Bento Gomes River, in Poconé. To date, this is the only known location where the species occurs. Other cloud fish live in the same environment, showing that these small flooded areas function as true biodiversity refuges and are home to highly specialized species. Spectrolebias pantanalensis was found in a set of temporary pools about 50 centimeters deep, in the drainage of the Bento Gomes River, in Poconé Alexandre Cunha Ribeiro "Temporary lagoons hold a great diversity of animals and plants. They are very important environments for the conservation of the Pantanal's biodiversity and also excellent places for studies related to climate change", highlights the researcher. Discovery helps understand the history of the region In addition to increasing the list of species known in the country, the discovery helps researchers understand how the Pantanal fauna was formed over time. The presence of the new species reinforces the hypothesis that the Paraguay and Guaporé river basins shared a geological and biogeographic history, allowing the dispersion and evolution of different groups of fish between these regions. According to biologist Telton Ramos, the record significantly expands the known distribution of this group of cloud fish, previously restricted to areas of Bolivia and Paraguay. "Cloudfish are excellent for biogeography studies because they live in generally isolated environments, such as temporary pools. This new species is endemic to the Pantanal, that is, it only occurs there. However, its closest relatives live in Bolivia and Paraguay, which highlights a possible historical connection between the rivers of these countries, where these species also occur", explains Ramos. Conservation As Spectrolebias pantanalensis is only known from a single point in the Pantanal, researchers highlight the importance of preserving these temporary environments. For Ramos, the discovery also shows that the Pantanal still holds many surprises for science. Although they often go unnoticed, small seasonal pools play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and can harbor species found nowhere else in the world. "We believe that this biome still hides a great diversity of fish that needs to be revealed, especially this group that lives in temporary environments and that is not normally part of studies carried out by other researchers." VIDEOS: Highlights Terra da Gente See more content about nature on Terra da Gente
