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Arroyo Tenixtepec, Papantla Veracruz, Mexico

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Mexico, Veracruz, Papantla

Sponsored by Planeta Azul Aquarium.

Arroyo Tenixtepec named after the closest town that is 19.7 km southeast of the municipality of Papantla Veracruz. The town is at a medium height of sea level.

Submitted by
Guillermo Valadez Mendez
Approved by
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas & Jairo Arroyave
GPS
20.5789509, -97.1730042
Geographical region
Central America
Drainage Basin
Tenixtepec
River catchment
Rio Tenixtepec
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Nameless affluent
Water body part
Channel
Water body course
Lower course
Water body: tributary of
Stream
Tributary name
Rio Tenixtepc

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
Medium
Concentration of sediments
High
Water temperature
28 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
8.2
Conductivity
GH
160 mg/l
KH
180 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen
92.04 %

Substrate in nature

Sand
no
Pebble/Gravel
Beige
Stone
Beige
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
Grey
Leaves
Many
Driftwood
Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting
17.07.2020
Collecting area
Edge of reservoir
Water depth
0,5m
Air temperature
33 °C
Sunlight
Partial shade

Environment

Environment
Affected by human activity
Affected by human activity
Pollution
Pollution
Little
Surrounding area

Three important cichlids inhabit the Tenixtepec Stream. Vieja fenestrata, Herichthys tepehua and Thorichthys maculipinnis among other species of poecilids that are attractive to aquarists due to their behavior in their reproduction.

Underwater landscape

The aquatic vegetation is mainly composed of three species Cabomba palaeformis, Ceratophyllum demersum and Najas guadalupensis which serve as a refuge for its inhabitants.

Fishes:

  • Vieja fenestrata abundant
  • Astyanax mexicanus abundant
  • Poecilia mexicana abundant
  • Eleotris pisonis few
  • Xiphophorus variatus abundant
  • Thorichthys maculipinnis few
  • Gobiomorus dormitor few
  • Herichthys tepehua abundant
  • Dajaus monticola rare

Molluscs:

  • Pomacea flagellata abundant
  • Melanoides tubercolata abundant

Crustacean

  • Macrobrachium acanthurus abundant
Threats to ecology

Today the hand of man has not greatly affected the Tenixtepec stream, remaining almost intact.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Selaginella sp.
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Thelypteris palustres
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Guazuma ulmifolia
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Philodendron sp.
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Cojoba arborea
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Inga edulis
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Pontederia sagittata
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Calocasia esculenta

Bibliography

  • Flora de veracruz, 1984 by Haynes, R.R
  • Sistematica de la Familia Pontederiaceae en Mexico, 1996 by Novelo, R.A.

Sitography

→ Casal, Christina Marie v.
→ Robert Rush Miller

Comment by the expert

Juan Miguel Artigas Azas: It is a beautiful description of the habitat. My main comments are that it is not mentioned that two of the cichlid species present (Vieja fenestrata and Thorichthys maculipinnis) are in fact newly arrivals introduced by man. I would have also like to see a more complete list of species; for example the beautiful crustacean Atya scabra can be found in Rio Tenixtepec. Some fish (e.g. Pseudoxiphophorus jonesii) and plant (e.g. Riccia fluitans, Ludwigia repens) species are missing from the description as well.

Jairo Arroyave: Media could have been of better quality, but nonetheless conveyed all the essential information about the BIN, including the terrestrial surrounding area and the inderwater habitat in detail. The participant did a good job at thoroughly documenting the caharacteristics of the BIN, which included a long list of fauna and flora. Documentation of chemical parameters is complete. Bibliography and sitography was sufficient, but like in the case of most other participants, it could have been more extensive.