Chave de identificação para Characidae (Characiformes) da Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico Santa Helena e Rio São Francisco Falso, PR, Brasil

Abstract

The family Characidae comprises 1215 species and its members have a general morphology very similar, making the identification process difficult without comparative material. Characidae are the richest species family in the region of influence of the conservation unit Area of Relevant Ecological Interest Santa Helena and São Francisco Falso Braço Sul river, Paraná State, Brazil, with 24 species. This work aims to provide an illustrated dichotomous identification key for these species. The identification key was created based on the presence, absence or state of morphological characteristics, and the respective characters were photographed.The identification key proposed includes visual resources complementary to the key to facilitate the identification process. This work contributes to the identification of Characidae species in surroundings of the Area of Relevant Ecological Interest Santa Helena and in the main channel of São Francisco Falso River Braço Sul sub-basin, which will facilitate future research in this region