Brazil 2008

aquariophil

Brazil 2008

Back in the killifish hot spot in the Rio São Francisco floodplains

Companies use a business principle for continuous and permanent improvement of internal processes. Something rather similar I adopted for this trip. It was supposed to be more successfull than all the trips before actually the best planned expedition so far. Thus there were advanced studies of Simpsonichthys habitat, type localities, and travel reports. Maps were prepared, routes were drawn, discussed and evaluated. As a result I finally worked out 6 different habitats of Simpsonichthys I wanted to visit. These habitats were spread over the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais.

E-BR 38-08 Bom Jesus da Lapa
Location	Pond on the right side of the BR349 towards Bom Jesus da Lapa (towards east), 900 m west of the access to the BA161 (to the north).
	Estado do Bahia
GPS coordinates	433m asl, S 13º 1.712', W 43º 31.631'
Date	2008-2-5
Time	11:00
Biotope	Limnic pond, sandy-loamy bottom with plenty of small branches and wodden particles.
	25 m x 8 m, max. knee deep water, water transparent to slightly turbid, clusters of Najas
Parameters	Temperature	28	ºC
	pH	8.9	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	100	µS/cm
	Hardness General	3	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	3	ºKH
	Nitrite	< 0.3	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	50	ppm
Species	Simpsonichthys flagellatus
	Cynolebias attenuatus Costa, 2001
Remarks	There is a slight deviation in the location’s GPS to the type locality of S. flagellatus.

Estados do Bahia and Minas Gerais

Like all previous trips I started in Bom Jesus da Lapa as the first station were I planned to spend 3-4 nights depending on the sites and fishing results. As Hotel Robertha had vacancies I decided to stay there like the last time.

The first fishing spot on this trip and - Bingo - a killifish habitat; biotope E-BR 38-08 at Bom Jesus da Lapa is the type locality of Simpsonichthys flagellatus.

Rainy weather during the entire trip; cloudy sky paired up with occasional rain falls.

There was plenty of submerse vegetation growing free floating or rooted in the sand-loam bottom. The water was quite transparent. In the deeper areas there was little turbidity.

Males of Simpsonichthys flagellatus E-BR 38-08 show dark extensions in dorsal and anal fins. The elder the male the broader the vertical brown stripes. The elder male on the right possesses thinner interspaces between the stripes than the younger on the left.

The double central spot pattern is typical for Simpsonichthys flagellatus females. Some populations have peduncle spots in addition. The picture shows an adult female.

Sex ratio: There were adults and sexed out juveniles with a slight tendency towards the juveniles (both sexes).

The predatory counterpart in the biotope was Cynolebias attenuatus. The picture shows a juvenile male. See the huge conical urogenital papillae.

E-BR 39-08
Location	Pond on the left side of the BA160 towards Malhada (towards south), ca. 26 km south of intersection with BR430.
	Estado do Bahia
GPS coordinates	448m asl, S 13º 30.774', W 43º 21.326'
Date	2008-2-5
Time	15:00
Biotope	Eutrophic, limnic pond, thick polsters of algae floating on the surface, slight foul smell. Cattle water tank. Myriads of flies created summing sound.
	Water highly turbid, no aquatic vegetation. Sandy-loamy bottom. 30 x 30 m, max. knee deep water, Echinodorus.
Parameters	Temperature	34	ºC
	pH	7.5	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	150	µS/cm
	Hardness General		ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate		ºKH
	Nitrite		mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	70	ppm
Species	Cynolebias sp.
Remarks

Ratio Simpsonichthys/Cynolebias was 20:1.

Biotope E-BR 39-08; sunny, very hot wether. When I first stepped into the water I did not expect any fish, due to extremely high water temperatures. In the shallow areas the temperature should be nearly 40 ºC. But due to the deeply colored water the temperature on the bottom of the pond was refreshingly cool.

Very high density of the Cynolebias, each draught brought up individuals, sometimes even three. Probably due to the abundance of Cynolebias, retreating water levels and the high water temperatures no coexisting Simpsonichthys were caught.

This Cynolebias likely belongs to a yet undescribed species.

The picture shows a male. Due to the deeply colored water pictures taken in the cuvette photos are not really usable.

This is a female of Cynolebias sp.

For more images of Cynolebias sp. please go to the photo section.

Butterflies tanking minerals on BA160. Picture taken on the route back towards Bom Jesus da Lapa.

E-BR 40-08
Location	Pond on both sides of the BA161 towards Sitio do Mato (towards north), ca. 6 km north of intersection with BR349.
	Estado do Bahia
GPS coordinates	444m asl, S 13º 12.542', W 43º 31.157'
Date	2008-2-6
Time	14:00
Biotope	60 x 25 m, max. knee deep transparent water, sandy-loamy bottom, limnic pond.
	Nymphaea spp., Echinodorus spp., Najas spp.
Parameters	Temperature	ºC
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Brachychalcinus orbicularis (Valenciennes, 1850)
	Characidae sp. III (is likely a Moenkhausia sp. (see E-BR 33-07))
	Pygocentrus piraya (Cuvier, 1819)
Remarks

Biotope E-BR 40-08 is a non Rivulidae but Characidae habitat.

Juvenile and beautifully colored Brachychalcinus orbicularis were abundant.

This characid is likely a Moenkhausia. Should be identical with fishes from E-BR 33-07.

Juvenile coloration of Pygocentrus piraya

Crossing the Rio Corrente which is a left tributary to the Rio São Francisco on my way to Sitio do Mato.

E-BR 41-08 Rio Corrente
Location	Pond in the northern floodplains of the Rio Corrente
	Estado do Bahia, north of Rio Corrente
GPS coordinates	upon request
Date	2008-2-6
Time	16:00
Biotope	40 x 30 m, max. knee deep almost transparent water, sandy-loamy bottom, Froschnabel, Najas, Echinodorus.
	Stangnant water. Beautiful biotope with a little shadow.
Parameters	Temperature	26	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	7.2	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	100	µS/cm
	Hardness General	3	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	3	ºKH
	Nitrite	<0.3	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	50	ppm
Species	Simpsonichthys adornatus Costa, 2000

Remarks	The caught Simpsonichthys adornatus are not yet known to the hobby and beautifully black-bluish colored in males.

Biotope E-BR 41-08 differs from the typical Plan Alto Simpsonichthys habitat in having some shady places. This biotope is not completely exposed to the sunshine.

This plant with surface floating leaves covered big parts of the puddle. It was blossoming in light blue.

Fishing for more than 2 hours finally unveiled a male. I expected Simpsonichthys adornatus for the females coloration and pattern. But this population is different from the S. adornatus population in our tanks.

Females of the Rio Corrente population are phenotypically equal to the type locality population of S. adornatus from north of Sitio do Mato.

Sex ratio (m:f): 1:40

The Simpsonichthys adornatus were caught in this floating jungle.

There was plenty of Cyclops as a food source.

Dragon flyer larvae and huge water beetles were abundant.

Tadpoles showed an interesting behaviour: I did not caught single tadpoles but saw a cluster of them rolling over the ground reminding me of the marine eeltail catfish Plotosus lineatus when foraging.

E-BR 44-08 Sitio Agua Branca
Location	Pond on left side of BA812 towards Mutas (towards south), 2 km after leaving BR030, intersection is 17.7 km after Guanambi Petrobras (PB) petrol station.
	Estado do Bahia. 5.9 km before access to Sitio Agua Branca, 8 km before Mutas (Torta de Algadao).
GPS coordinates	523m asl, S 14º 15.005', W 42º 57.575'
Date	2008-2-9
Time	9:00
Biotope	25 x 25 x 2 m, in some areas deep bank. Aquatic vegetation; Sea roses.
	Bottom: Sandy gravel loam mixture. Gravel of different sizes, some up to 15 mm.
Parameters	Temperature	27	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	7.6	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	640	µS/cm
	Hardness General	4	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	3	ºKH
	Nitrite	<0.3	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	320	ppm
Species	Simpsonichthys flagellatus
	Simpsonichthys fulminantis
	Tilapia sp.
Remarks

Biotope E-BR 42-08 is located on the BA161 east of Sitio do Mato and is hence not the type locality of Simpsonichthys adornatus which is north of Sitio do Mato. However this species also inhabits this temporary puddle.

Bizarre tadpoles featruing transparent finnages were abundant.

Male of Simpsonichthys adornatus in the cuvette. Basically identical to the type locality population.

Female of Simpsonichthys adornatus E-BR 42-08.

A brawny female of Cynolebias gibbus E-BR 42-08.

E-BR 43-08
Location	Pond on left side of BR030 from Guanambi to Malhada. Pond is not benched.
	Estado do Bahia, directly in front of a wonderful rock formation
GPS coordinates	509m asl, S 14º 13.263', W 42º 52.073'
Date	2008-2-0
Time	8:00
Biotope	Plenty of aquatic vegetation; Sea roses, Echinodorus.
	50 x 10 x 1 m
Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Astyanax bimaculatus

Remarks

Biotope E-BR 44-08 at Sitio Agua Branca does not look like a typical killifish habitat. It looks more like a real pond, not like a typical annual puddle.

E-BR 42-08 Sitio do Mato
Location	Pond on right side of the BA161 towards Sitio do Mato (towards east), ca. 6 km after the access to Malhada Alta (BA576).
	Estado do Bahia
GPS coordinates	434m asl, S 13º 05.169', W 43º 30.545'
Date	2008-02-07
Time	10:00
Biotope	50 x 25 x 1.2m stagnant pond, sandy-loamy bottom, no shadow, directly exposed to the sun shine, plenty of aquatic vegetation.
	Echinodorus, Najas (with dense clusters in the deeper area), Nymphaea (white blossoming)
Parameters	Temperature	30	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	7.4	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	40	µS/cm
	Hardness General	1	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	1	ºKH
	Nitrite	<0.3	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	20	ppm
Species	Simpsonichthys adornatus Costa, 2000
	Cynolebias gibbus Costa, 2001
Remarks	Dalton Nielson reported Cynolebias gilbertoi Costa, 1998 from this biotope (Nielson, 2008, pers. com.).

Simpsonichthys adornatus were mainly caught in the dense Najas cluster.

The ratio Cynolebias/Simpsonichthys was 1:9

Sex ratio within Simpsonichthys adornatus was almost equal.

Simpsonichthys fulminantis E-BR 44-08 possess fantastic coloration. I caught juveniles and adults with a slight tendancy towards the adults.

In Simpsonichthys fulminantis E-BR 44-08 the sex ratio was slightly skewed towards males (3:2).

Adult female of Simpsonichthys fulminantis E-BR 44-08 in the cuvette.

The second species of annual rivulids in this biotope was Simpsonichthys flagellatus.

Adult female of Simpsonichthys flagellatus E-BR 44-08. Sex ratio was skewed towards males (2:1).

Unfortunately I also found Tilapia sp. The ratio between Simpsonichthys/Tilapia was 20:1. Hopefully this pond dries out completely during the draught.

Fantastic rock formations and Cerrado vegetation on road BR030 Guanambi towards Malhada

E-BR 45-08
Location	Big flooded area on the right side on the BR030 18.5 km after Guanambi (Petrobras petrol station) towards Palma de Monte Alto.
	Estado do Bahia.
GPS coordinates	515m asl, S 14º 13.993', W 42º 57.670'
Date	2008-2-9
Time	10:30
Biotope	100 x 40 x 1m (rough estimation), densely planted with Nymphaea, Echinodorus, Froschnabel (blue+white)

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Astyanax bimaculatus
	Hoplias malabaricus
Remarks	Should be the type locality of Simpsonichthys carlettoi, but no Cyprinodontiformes were caught.

E-BR 45-08 is supossed to be the type locality of Simpsonichthys carlettoi.

This plant was all around at E-BR 45-08.

E-BR 46-08
Location	Gravel road to the left from BR030 towards west. Pond on the right side.
	Estado do Bahia.
GPS coordinates	500m asl, S 14º 13.434', W 43º 05.132'
Date	2008-2-9
Time	11:45
Biotope	15 x 15 x 2 m, Nymphaea.

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Astyanax bimaculatus
	Hoplias malabaricus
Remarks

E-BR 47-08
Location	On a gravel road to the left 1.5 km after Beija-Flor petrol station in Guanambi. Pond on the right side.
	Estado do Bahia.
GPS coordinates	514m asl, S 14º 15.276', W 42º 45.835'
Date	2008-2-9
Time	14:30
Biotope	40 x 30 x 2.5 m, Nymphaea.

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Astyanax bimaculatus

Remarks

E-BR 48-08
Location	Pond on the left side on BR030, 78.5 km after Guanambi towards Malhada.
	Estado do Bahia.
GPS coordinates	619m asl, S 14º 16.754', W 43º 31.297'
Date	2008-2-10
Time	11:45
Biotope	40 x 15 x 1.5 m, Loamy gravel bottom, no aquatic vegetation.

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Astyanax bimaculatus

Remarks	The Astyanax had a nice yellowish coloration.

E-BR 49-08 Janauba
Location	Road MG401 Janauba to Verdelandia. Located next to the suburbans of Janauba.
	Estado do Minas Gerais. Pond on right side of the road.
GPS coordinates	619m asl, S 14º 16.754', W 43º 31.297'
Date	2008-2-11
Time	13:00
Biotope	Main water: 50 x 40 x 1 m. Different non linked smaller waters.

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species

Remarks	Type locality of Simpsonichthys janaubensis

It is located close to the vicinity of Janauba, which is a middle sized town in Minas Gerais acting a preferred traffic hub for lorries and hence is exposed to considerable amounts of traffic related pollution and noise.

This is the only place S. janaubensis is known from. I consider this habitat and thus the species highly endangered.

On my way to Januaria in Minas Gerais I crossed by the type locality of Simponichthys janaubensis at Janauba.

I finally reached Januaria located on the left bank of the Rio São Francisco. I like this town for its lay back atmosphere and original Brazilian tropical feeling.

There are plenty of beautiful old buildings in Januaria like this one: Hotel Rondonia.

E-BR 50-08
Location	Road MGT135 Januaria to Itacarambi, gravel road to the right, towards a camping and fishing spot called Carcara.
	Estado do Minas Gerais. Pond on both sides of the road.
GPS coordinates	458m asl, S 15º 23.627', W 44º 14.562'
Date	2008-2-12
Time	08:30
Biotope	25 x 15 x 1 m. Gravel bottom, no submerse vegetation visible.

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species	Characidae sp. I (see E-BR 25-07)

Remarks

I caught this small tetra; Characidae sp. I E-BR 50-08. Difficult to ID.

E-BR 51-08 Levinopolis
Location	Road MGT135 Januaria to Itacarambi, 5.6 km after access to Levinopolis, 22.5 km before Itacarambi.
	Estado do Minas Gerais. Pond on right side of the road.
GPS coordinates	485m asl, S 15º 14.938', W 44º 13.094'
Date	2008-2-12
Time	10:30
Biotope	100 x 40 x 0.5 m, plenty of libella larvae, few tadpoles, bottom; loam.
	Plentiful aquatic vegetation: Limnophila, Najas.
Parameters	Temperature	28	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	10.6	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	200	µS/cm
	Hardness General	4	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	3	ºKH
	Nitrite	<0.3	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	100	ppm
Species	Simpsonichthys flagellatus

Remarks

Biotope E-BR51-08 is a beautiful but very sonny spot. The very high pH was double checked using titration. The result was out of scale, means higher than 9.

Fishes were rather rare in the beautiful underwater garden. This could be sign of high levels of carbonoxide during the nocturnal negative photosynthesis generated by abundant emerse plants.

In fact this is the heaviest planted killifish habitat I have ever seen.

Females of Simpsonichthys flagellatus E-BR 51-08 show nice golden coloration over the flanks. All females were in excellent condition and full of eggs.

Sex ratio 1:5 (m:f). In total I just caught one male which disappeared before I was able to take some pictures.

E-BR 52-08 São João das Missoes
Location	Road MGT135 Itacarambi to São João das Missoes.
	Estado do Minas Gerais. Pond on right side of the road.
GPS coordinates
Date	2008-2-12
Time	15:00
Biotope

Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species

Remarks	This biotope is identical with E-BR 11-07 and 23-07.
	Biotope entirely dried out. This is the type locality of Simpsonichthys hellneri

This is already the third time I visit the type locality of Simpsonichthys hellneri. Like the previous time it is completely dried out. Actually the weather was rather humid with ocassion rain falls and hence I am seriously concerned. I hope there is still life in this habitat.

It is a hard life during the draught; Echinodorus palaefolius growing in stony hard and dry soil at E-BR52-08

E-BR 53-08 Pirapora
Location	Pond next to crossing BR365 and Rua Treze de Maio in the suburbans of Pirapora in the floodplains of the Rio São Francisco.
	Estado do Minas Gerais.
GPS coordinates	509 m asl, S 17º 21.994', W 44º 56.540'
Date	2008-2-14
Time	12:00
Biotope	Dump site for household garbage and roadworks waste reflects a highly endangered biotope. Human faciities are directly bordering the biotope.
	100 x 50 x 0.3 m, in the rain season seems to be much longer (200 m). Plenty of aquatic vegetation: Salvinia, Nymphaea, etc.
Parameters	Temperature	ºC (in 10 cm depth)
	pH	pH
	Conductivity (EC)	µS/cm
	Hardness General	ºGH
	Hardness Carbonate	ºKH
	Nitrite	mg/l
	Total Dissolved Solution (TDS)	ppm
Species

Remarks	Type locality of Simpsonichthys nielseni, highly endangered due to urbanization.

Unfortunately also the last biotope on this trip is highly endangered. When I visited this spot in February 2008 the plateau aside the habitat is already in use as a trash dump site. Household and construction site trash have been unloaded. It is only a question of time until the waste is moved into the pond. There are already some traces of construction waste in the pond. It probably will not see the next rainy season.

This is the type locality of Simpsonichthys nielseni. The population well known in the hobby as Pirapora B 02/06..

The massively growing water plants (especially free floating Salvinia sp.) are indicating high eutrophication levels.