THE FISHES OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VERACRUZ, MEXICO

The northern and central part of Veracruz, Mexico, as herein delimited, is inhabited by 121 species of fish, in 83 genera and 47 families. Four species and 3 families are Nearctic, 28 species and, 6 families are Neotropical, and 1 species is circumtropical. Ecologically, 8 species and 4 families are primary, 25 species and 6 families are secondary, 30 families are peripheral, and 7 families are marine, many of them marine accidentals. A mountainous area near Punta del Morro almost reaches the sea, and acts as a filter for primary and secondary species. Its importance had not been described in detail. From the north, the following species range to Punta del Morro or less: Astyanax mexicanus, Dionda ipni, Ictalurus cf. furcatus, I. cf. punctatus, Lucania parva, Cyprinodon variegatus, Gambusia affinis, G. vittata, Heterandria sp., Poecilia formosa, P. latipinna, Xiphophorus birchmani, X. variatus, Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum, C. labridens and C sp.. From the south, the species that approach or reach Punta del Morro are: Astyanax aeneus, Hyphessobrycon compressus, Rhamdia guatemalensis, R. laticauda, Rivulus cf. robustus, Belonesox belizanus, Poeciliopsis gracilis, Xiphophorus andersi, X. maculatus, and Ophisternon aenigmaticum. Eight species including one peripheral are present on both sides and constitute short penetrations across the barrier. At least nine species represent introductions, purposeful or accidental. Gambusia regani and G. panuco are nominal species of the same form; by first reviser, G. regani is regarded as senior synonym.