Objectives:

To know the taxonomic advances in freshwater fish in the period 2010-2019, based on the megadiversity of the richness of freshwater fish species characteristic in Colombia.

Scope:

inventory of freshwater fish added to known lists in the country. Methodology: a detailed and exhaustive review of the biological material present in personal collections, museums and research centers was carried out, as well as of the records published between 2010 and 2019.

Main Results:

As a result of the search and research carried out, a total of 110 new freshwater fish species were registered for Colombia (South America): two in 2010, 14 in 2011, four in 2012, nine in 2013, nine in 2014, ten in 2015, three in 2016, six in 2017, nine in 2018, and one in 2019. These species were described from the Magdalena, the Caribbean, Orinoco, Cauca, Pacific, Amazon, San Juan, Catatumbo, and Atrato basins in the Colombian rivers: Amazonas, Atrato, Catatumbo, Cauca, Magdalena, and Orinoco in the Colombian Pacific and the Caribbean sea. The 109 new species registered here belong to 15 families and 32 genera that are found in the departments of Amazonas (4), Antioquia (5), Boyacá (1), Caldas (4), Cauca (1), Casanare (1), Cesar (10), Córdoba (4), Chocó (5), Cundinamarca (2), Guainía (2), Guaviare (1), Guajira (1), Huila (1), Magdalena (2), Meta (12), Nariño (3), Putumayo (3), Risaralda (2), Santander (27), Norte de Santander (6), Tolima (10), Valle del Cauca (1), Vaupés (1) and Vichada (1). Likewise, the altitudes cover a wide range since they fluctuated between 1 and 2,700 masl.

Conclusions:

Regarding basins, it is significant to highlight the presence of 62 species in the Magdalena River Basin, which runs through the center of the country and includes the territories of 17 Departments, which is surprising given that it is one of the best known and sampled. The 110 species (2010-2019) included in this work, significantly increase the official number of national species and the additions confirm the specific macro-diversity of Colombia, particularly in its freshwater fish. It is highlighted that the hard work of the research groups, has allowed knowing better the watersheds and the fish of the country. Among the factors that have positively influenced the findings are the variety of arts, methods, sampling conditions, exploration of new geographical areas or work in places that were not visited for years.

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