# Fishes of the Conambo River Basin, an unexplored area in the Ecuadorian Amazon: first annotated checklist

## TL;DR

This paper presents the first detailed checklist of freshwater fish species in the Conambo River Basin in the Ecuadorian Amazon, including new records and local fishing practices.

## Contribution

The study provides the first annotated checklist of fish species in an underexplored region of the Ecuadorian Amazon, including potential new species and local ecological data.

## Key findings

- The dataset includes 118 fish species from seven orders and 31 families, some not previously recorded in Ecuador.
- Fish species captured by Shiwiar and Sapara communities are documented, highlighting local subsistence practices.
- The data serve as a baseline for future biodiversity and ecological research in the region.

## Abstract

The ichthyofauna of the Ecuadorian portion of the Marañón drainage remains poorly documented, particularly in the tributaries of the Tigre River. Here, we provide the first consolidated dataset of freshwater fish species from the Conambo River, including voucher-based records, locality information, habitat and hydrological context, fisheries practices, and photographic documentation. The dataset comprises 118 species representing seven orders and 31 families, including taxa not previously recorded for Ecuador and specimens that may represent undescribed species. A complementary dataset documents fish species captured by Shiwiar and Sapara fishers, providing additional information on locally important taxa and subsistence practices. Together, these datasets offer a new baseline for taxonomic, biogeographic, and ecological research in one of the least studied regions of the Ecuadorian Amazon and support future efforts to document and understand freshwater biodiversity in the Marañón drainage.