Amazon Forgotten Fishes. How the remarkable diversity of freshwater fishes is critical to people, rivers and forest

Across the vast sweep of the Amazon Basin, thousands of rivers, streams and floodplain lakes flow in an immense, interconnected waterscape— home to an unparalleled diversity of freshwater fishes. More than 2,700 species have so far been recorded, with dozens more added each year as scientific exploration continues. This report dives beneath the surface to reveal their life histories, including their range and variety, the roles they play in the ecosystem, their adaptations and their niches. It also explores their place in human society, since millions of people across the Amazon rely on fish for food and livelihoods, and they have a unique place in the sociocultural heritage, histories and identities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities throughout the basin.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892208
Primary Topic
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Amazon Forgotten Fishes. How the remarkable diversity of freshwater fishes is critical to people, rivers and forest

Sebastián Heilpern, Guillermo Estupinan, Sandra Bibiana Correa, Carolina Rodrigues da Costa Dória et al.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
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Amazon Forgotten Fishes. How the remarkable diversity of freshwater fishes is critical to people, rivers and forest

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article en

Abstract

Across the vast sweep of the Amazon Basin, thousands of rivers, streams and floodplain lakes flow in an immense, interconnected waterscape— home to an unparalleled diversity of freshwater fishes. More than 2,700 species have so far been recorded, with dozens more added each year as scientific exploration continues. This report dives beneath the surface to reveal their life histories, including their range and variety, the roles they play in the ecosystem, their adaptations and their niches. It also explores their place in human society, since millions of people across the Amazon rely on fish for food and livelihoods, and they have a unique place in the sociocultural heritage, histories and identities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities throughout the basin.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (BR), Shahed University (IR), Amazon (United States) (US), Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (BR), Yahoo (United Kingdom) (GB), World Resources Institute (US), Wildlife Conservation Society (US), Universidade da Amazônia (BR), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR), Florida International University (US), Cornell University (US), Universidade Federal do Ceará (BR), Instituto Sinchi (CO), Universidad de los Llanos (CO), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (CO), Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (PE), University of the Americas (CL), Universidad de Las Américas (EC), Instituto del Mar del Peru (PE), Proyecto Español (ES), Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute (IN), Universidade Independente de Angola (AO), Instituto de Pesca (BR), Instituto de Telecomunicações (PT), National Biodiversity Institute (CR), Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (EC), Wildlife Conservation Society United Kingdom (GB), ID-FISH Technology (United States) (US), Universidade Federal do Pará (BR), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (EC), Stanford University (US), Mississippi State University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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