| Coming from Oriental Asia and Siberia, the Cyprinidae reached the Iberic Peninsula probably at the end of the Oligocene. Their populations bore speciation processes which led to the formation of a fauna rich in endemic species and subspecies. Populations of two of the genera Barbus and Pseudophoxinus reached Northwestern African forming there several endemic species. Concerning the speciation forms, it is probable that the allopatric form, whether by foundation effect or by subdivision, played an important part. Pyrenees and Mediterranean Sea settled probably efficient barriers for the Iberic Cyprinidae isolation. The present geographical repartition of Cyprinidae in Iberic Peninsula suggests that altitude lines and glaciations which reached the north of... |
