The Darien Gap, is (besides being part of the geo-political news of late) is the area where Central America (Panama) and South America (Colombia) join, and is a unique zone where species from both continents collided, as volcanos erupted connecting the two continents. It’s kind of remote, and the Panamanian highway changes from a smooth two lane superhighway, to a rutted up one lane, then to a dirt path, and into simply jungle, so my collecting forays have just skirted its western edge so far.
It is an area where species from the soft, low pH rivers of S America, have adapted (or not), to the hard, calcium rich, high pH waters of Central America, or…. if unable to adapt, have either died out, or evolved into some other species over millennia.
Only 2 cichlid species from two S American genera have adapted almost unchanged, to the waters there.
Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus, almost identical to S America’s Andinoacara pulcher, has radiated throughout Panama and Costa Rica,
and Geophagus crassilabrus, which is the spittin image of the west Andean Geophagines, steindachneri, and pellegrini, and have evolved tolerance for the high pH and hard waters of Panama. This one is high on my wish list, to collect.
Others from the Darien Gap are unique enough to be the only individuals in their respective genera.
Isthmoheros tuyrense, closely related to the Amphilophines
Darienheros calobrensiis closely related to Astatherines
Talamancaheros seiboldi which is related to Tomocichla.
But not only just unique cichlids, there are also Characins such as the toothless Curimatids, Cyphocharax magdalenae, found both in Panama and Colombia,
and the gar Characin, Ctenolucius beanii, which has a sister species in Colombia Ctenolucius hujeta, among others.
Another interesting species that has crossed Colombia and into the gap into Panama is the pleco, Chaetestoma fischeri
It is an area where species from the soft, low pH rivers of S America, have adapted (or not), to the hard, calcium rich, high pH waters of Central America, or…. if unable to adapt, have either died out, or evolved into some other species over millennia.
Only 2 cichlid species from two S American genera have adapted almost unchanged, to the waters there.
Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus, almost identical to S America’s Andinoacara pulcher, has radiated throughout Panama and Costa Rica,
and Geophagus crassilabrus, which is the spittin image of the west Andean Geophagines, steindachneri, and pellegrini, and have evolved tolerance for the high pH and hard waters of Panama. This one is high on my wish list, to collect.
Others from the Darien Gap are unique enough to be the only individuals in their respective genera.
Isthmoheros tuyrense, closely related to the Amphilophines
Darienheros calobrensiis closely related to Astatherines
Talamancaheros seiboldi which is related to Tomocichla.
But not only just unique cichlids, there are also Characins such as the toothless Curimatids, Cyphocharax magdalenae, found both in Panama and Colombia,
and the gar Characin, Ctenolucius beanii, which has a sister species in Colombia Ctenolucius hujeta, among others.
Another interesting species that has crossed Colombia and into the gap into Panama is the pleco, Chaetestoma fischeri
Last edited: