The Parnaíba River ( ) is a river in Brazil, which forms the border between the states of Maranhão and Piauí. Its main course is long and the Parnaíba River Basin covers .Ramos, T.P.A.; Ramos, R.T.C.; and Ramos, S.A.Q.A. (2014). Ichthyofauna of the Parnaíba river Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 14(1). The Parnaíba River rises in the Chapada das Mangabeiras range, and flows northeastward to empty into the Atlantic Ocean, being the longest river entirely located within Brazil's Northeast Region. The middle and upper regions of this river are separated by the Boa Esperança Hydroelectric Power Plant dam, but is otherwise navigable.
Ecology The fish species richness in the Parnaíba River Basin has traditionally been considered impoverished, but this has been disproven by recent surveys, which have recorded about 140 native species (including several that remain undescribed) and about 40% of these are endemic. One of the basin endemics is the freshwater stingray Potamotrygon signata.Moro, G.I; Charvet, P.; and Rosa, R.S. (2012). Insectivory in Potamotrygon signata (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), an endemic freshwater stingray from the Parnaíba River basin, northeastern Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 72(4). More than 70% of the fish species in the basin are members of either Characiformes or Siluriformes. The fauna in the headwaters has not yet been thoroughly surveyed. In addition to the natives, there are seven introduced fish species in the basin.
The river delta is protected by the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, created in 1996. The river's delta has large stands of mangrove,Lacerda, L.D., eds. (2002). Mangrove Ecosystems: Function and Management. p. 53. as well as dunes, beaches, marshes and other habitats.BirdLife International: Delta do Parnaíba. Retrieved 28 July 2014. The delta is considered an Important Bird Area and is home to species such as scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) and rufous crab hawk (Buteogallus aequinoctialis).
Two species of aquatic turtles are endemic to the general region, the Maranhão slider (Trachemys adiutrix) that is found in the delta and the side-necked turtles Mesoclemmys perplexa found inland, but neither is entirely restricted to the Parnaíba River Basin.Batistela, A.M. (2008). Biologia de Trachemys adiutrix (Vanzolini, 1995) (Testudines, Emydidae) no litoral do nordeste - Brasil. INPA/Biologia de Água Doce e Pesca Interior.Bour, R.; and Zaher, H. (2005). A new species of Mesoclemmys, from the open formations of northeastern Brazil (Chelonii, Chelidae). Pap. Avulsos Zool. (São Paulo) 45(24).
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