Amazon Forgotten Fishes (English)
The Amazon Basin contains over 2,700 fish species, nearly two-thirds of which are endemic to the region. From giant arapaima and long-distance migratory catfish to electric, blind, and brilliantly colored species, Amazonian fishes reflect extraordinary freshwater biodiversity supported by an interconnected network of rivers, wetlands, and floodplains.
Subject Tags
- Fisheries
- Biodiversity
- Rivers
Overview
The Amazon Basin is the most diverse freshwater fish region on Earth, with more than 2,700 documented species and nearly 1,700 found nowhere else. Scientific exploration continues to uncover new species each year, revealing the remarkable richness of the region's rivers, wetlands, streams, and floodplains. Amazonian fishes range from giants such as the arapaima, one of the world's largest freshwater fish, to migratory catfish that travel thousands of kilometers between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean. Other species generate electricity, display vivid colors, camouflage themselves as drifting leaves, or thrive in hidden underground habitats. Together, these fishes represent an extraordinary diversity of forms, behaviors, and ecological roles. Their survival depends on the health and connectivity of the Amazon's vast freshwater network, which sustains biodiversity, supports local communities, and maintains one of the world's most important ecosystems.
Citation
Silva, F., Estupiñán, G., López-Casas, S., Jiménez-Prado, P., Rodríguez, V., et al. (2026). Amazon Forgotten Fishes. How the remarkable diversity of freshwater fishes is critical to people, rivers and forest. The Nature Conservancy. DOI: ISBN 978-628-97332-4-2.
TNC Authors
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Fernanda Silva
Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Scientist
The Nature Conservancy
Email: f.silva@tnc.org -
Allison Aldous
Freshwater Fisheries, Strategy Director
The Nature Conservancy
Email: aaldous@tnc.org -
Cecile Brugere
Global Freshwater Fisheries Equity Advisor
The Nature Conservancy
Email: cecile.brugere@tnc.org -
Flávia Loures
Senior Policy Advisor, Freshwater
The Nature Conservancy
Email: flavia.loures@tnc.org -
Mary Pleasant
Freshwater Fisheries Strategy Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Email: mary.pleasant@tnc.org -
Pedro Jiménez-Prado
The Nature Conservancy
Email: pedro.jimenez@tnc.org -
Shiteng Kang
Freshwater Conservation Scientist
The Nature Conservancy
Email: stan.kang@tnc.org -
Silvia Benítez
Freshwater Director, LAR
The Nature Conservancy
Email: sbenitez@tnc.org -
Sui Phang
Freshwater Fisheries Deputy Director
The Nature Conservancy
Email: sui.phang@tnc.org