Author Description

A rapid biological assessment of the Upper Cuyuni River Basin in southeastern Venezuela was conducted in January 2008. Taxonomic information was collected for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, and vegetation. The data will be used to guide conservation efforts and management of the region, which is severely threatened by small-scale gold mining. At least six species of fishes new to science were documented, as well as ten new species records for Venezuela. Results included 517 species of plants, 82 species of aquatic macroinvertebrates, 125 fish species, 29 amphibian species, 24 reptile species, 254 bird species, and 87 mammal species. The report is in Spanish, with an English summary.