Resumen

HABIT, Evelyn  y  VICTORIANO, Pedro. Composition, origin and conservation value of the San Pedro River Ichthyofauna (Valdivia River Basin, Chile). Gayana (Concepc.) [online]. 2012, vol.76, suppl.1, pp. 10-23. ISSN 0717-6538.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-65382012000100002.

Based on three consecutive years of sampling and bibliographic revision, the composition, singularity and conservation status of the San Pedro River ichthyofauna is described. In addition, the potential origin of this Valdivia River ichthyofauna was analyzed and this basin is proposed to have worked like a sink, mainly the higher zone, having been colonized both from Coastal-Pacific as from Eastern Andes sources. It is concluded that this river has a particular conservation value due to its high species richness, endemism and biogeographic characteristics.

Palabras clave : Fish fauna; San Pedro River; endemisms; conservation; Chile.