OBITUARIES
Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017, 147–160
In Memoriam: Richard Peter Vari (August 24, 1949–January 15, 2016)
Brian L. Sidlauskas1,2, Carl Ferraris2, Vicki Funk2, Lynne R. Parenti2,
Mario de Pinna3, and Gordon McGregor Reid4,5
D
URING his long and storied professional career,
RICHARD PETER VARI (Fig. 1) established himself as
one of the world’s foremost systematic ichthyolo-
gists, mentored dozens of junior scientists, devoted countless
hours to professional service, developed a globe-spanning
network of professional collaborations, and maintained a
deep and consistent commitment to his loving family and
friends. We count ourselves fortunate to have been among
those who knew Rich best. Though we were among his
longest collaborators, colleagues, and friends, all in our
profession were enriched by his presence, and we are
diminished in the wake of his early passing. Herein, we
highlight the lasting impact of his scholarship, service, and
character, and preserve memories of Rich’s joyous and
collegial spirit for future generations.
Professional accomplishments and honors.—Rich’s research
program broadly covered systematics of freshwater fishes,
with emphasis on African and Neotropical freshwater taxa.
His studies covered a broad array of aspects of systematics,
including morphological and molecular phylogenetic stud-
ies, taxonomic and nomenclatural issues, faunal studies, and
the biogeographic implications of fish distributions. During
his career, he published 163 peer reviewed papers (see
Publications by Richard P. Vari) with two more in press at
the time of our writing and well over a dozen more in various
stages of preparation by his coauthors. He also helped edit a
landmark book on Neotropical fish phylogeny (Malabarba et
al., 1998) and another on the fishes of the Guiana Shield
(Vari et al., 2009). Although he began his career with a
comprehensive systematic study (Vari, 1978) of the marine,
brackish, and freshwater terapon perches (family Teraponti-
dae, mainly of the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific), the
bulk of his later research focused on African and Neotropical
freshwater fishes, in which he quickly established himself as
one of the world’s leading experts. His exhaustive study of
the Neotropical characiform family Curimatidae spanned
about 15 years, yielded more than 20 publications (e.g., Vari,
1982, 1988, 1992) and represents his most comprehensive
corpus of single-authored work. Much of the rest of his
scholarship is coauthored, and spans a breathtaking array of
families within the ostariophysan orders Characiformes,
Siluriformes, and Gymnotiformes.
The body of Rich’s taxonomic contributions includes 35
revisionary studies, ranging in scope from small genera to
entire families, which resulted in the clarification of the
validity of several hundred species and were instrumental in
the discovery of many of the 194 new species described alone
or with colleagues. The continent-wide revisionary approach
that dominated his research program also focused attention
on the large amount of previously undetected biodiversity in
Neotropical waters. Familial revision of Curimatidae in-
creased the number of known species by 50%, while that of
Fig. 1. Richard Vari at his desk in the National Museum of Natural
History near the end of his career. Rich chose this photograph as his
profile picture on Facebook, which he joined in the last few years of his
life. Photographer unknown, likely a Smithsonian employee.
1 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97330; Email: brian.sidlauskas@oregonstate.
edu. Send reprint requests to this address.
2 National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20560.
3 Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Av. Nazare´, 481, Ipiranga, Sa˜o Paulo, SP, 04263-000, Brazil.
4 Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Rd., Kensington, London Sw7 5BD, U.K.
5 School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K.
 2017 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists DOI: 10.1643/CI-16-550 Published online: 14 April 2017
Cetopsidae (de Pinna and Vari, 1995; Vari et al., 2005; de
Pinna et al., 2007) doubled the total number of species.
Generic revisions of some poorly studied groups resulted in
even greater increases in species’ numbers, e.g., the gymnoti-
form genus Sternarchorhynchus increased by 200% (de
Santana and Vari, 2010) and the characiform genus Crea-
grutus by more than 300% (Harold and Vari, 1994).
In addition to taxon-based studies, Rich also studied the
development and taxon distributional patterns of a variety of
anatomical structures that offered new character information
for future phylogenetic studies, and he examined how
distributions of tropical freshwater fishes revealed patterns
of biodiversity on continental and global scales. Together
with Smithsonian colleague Stanley Weitzman, Rich focused
attention on the phenomenon of miniaturization in numer-
ous lineages of Neotropical fishes, and highlighted repeated
patterns of structural changes among miniature species
(Weitzman and Vari, 1988). Studies building on their
pioneering work increased substantially the recognized
numbers of miniature species throughout the tropics (Buck-
up, 1993; Costa and Le Bail, 1999; Bu¨hrnheim et al., 2008).
The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
recognized Rich’s excellence at the beginning and near the
end of his career by designating him as the 1974 winner of
the Frederick H. Stoye award for best student presentation in
ichthyology and the 2008 winner of the Gibbs Award for an
outstanding body of published work in systematic ichthyol-
ogy. His Latin American colleagues made him an honorary
member of the Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia, and
presented him with the ‘‘Golden Fish Award’’ from La
Asociaco´n Colombiana de Ictiologos. To date, taxa named
in Rich’s honor include a genus of terapon perch (Varia Allen,
1991; later changed to Variichthys Allen, 1993), seven species
of Neotropical characiform fishes (Semaprochilodus varii
Castro, 1988; Steindachnerina varii Ge´ry, Planquette, and Le
Bail, 1991; Curimata vari Gaye-Siessegger and Fricke, 1998;
Creagrutus varii Ribeiro, Benine, and Figueiredo, 2004;
Pseudanos varii Birindelli, Lima, and Britski, 2012; Oligosarcus
varii Menezes and Ribeiro, 2015; and Xenurobrycon varii
Mendonc¸a et al., 2016), and the recently published catfish
Gelanoglanis varii Calegari and Reis, 2017. A much less
obvious, yet nonetheless telling, honor is the nearly
uncountable number of publications in which Rich’s assis-
tance was acknowledged by his colleagues. One of these
publications that best reflects this is the Historical Biogeogra-
phy of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes (Albert and Reis, 2011),
which is dedicated to Rich, together with John Lundberg, for
their ‘‘unflagging devotion to Neotropical Ichthyology. . . .’’.
Early years, education, and training.—Rich was born on
August 24, 1949 in Newburgh, New York, and spent his
early years on a farm in Marlborough, New York. Claiming
that a ‘‘farm was no place to raise a child,’’ Rich’s father
Adolfo and mother Nerina soon decided to move the family
to Manhattan, where Rich grew up and attended Catholic
school. An only child, he was close to his father, a
Pennsylvania-born hotel chef of Italian descent whose career
included a stint at the Colorado hotel in which The Shining
was filmed. Rich learned to cook at his father’s knee, gaining
an early passion for fine cooking that persisted throughout
his life and helped land him a job in a Delta Airlines flight
kitchen in 1979 between his postdoctoral appointments and
a consultancy for the World Bank. His culinary experience
also provided a point of contact and conversation with food
service employees during his later career at the Smithsonian,
and benefitted anyone lucky enough to be invited to a
gourmet meal at his table.
The first in his family to attend college, Rich worked as
doorman at Manhattan’s Union Club while studying full
time towards the Bachelor of Science he received from New
York University in 1971. He learned to speak Italian during
these college years, a process likely made easier due to early
exposure to the language during visits from relatives. Though
at one point he planned to study biophysics, he proceeded to
earn his doctorate in 1977 through the joint graduate
training program between the City University of New York
and the American Museum of Natural History. Under the
tutelage of Donn Eric Rosen, Rich developed an extraordi-
nary sense of loyalty and dedication to natural history
museums and their collections (Fig. 2), which he passed on in
his own turn to numerous mentees at the Smithsonian. One
of us (LRP) was also a student of Donn Rosen’s at that time,
and recalls that to Donn and other native New Yorkers
(including her and Rich), the AMNH was both a cathedral
and a home. All in Donn’s fold felt privileged to able to spend
so much time behind-the-scenes in the collections, the
libraries, and, as students, at the microscope under his
guidance.
Lynne also recalls (without regret) that Rich was Donn’s
favorite graduate student, and that they shared a unique
father and son relationship. Rich would have done anything
for Donn, as evidenced when they spent hours together
restoring a nearly impossibly tangled gill net on a field trip to
Guatemala in 1974 (Fig. 3). That tenacity to see tasks through
to their completion, and drive to help those around him,
characterized Rich’s approach throughout his life. For
example, as a graduate student, Lynne had no opportunities
to do tropical fieldwork, so Rich helped fill the void by
inviting her to join him on a collecting trip to Suriname after
she completed her Ph.D. The offer thrilled her, remains to
date her only field trip to South America, and provided the
opportunity to take one of her favorite photos of Rich (Fig.
4). Here, Rich is simultaneously serious and lighthearted, and
brims with optimism. Who wouldn’t want to show, with
pride, that they had just captured an electric eel? It was 1980,
Rich was a new Curator in the Division of Fishes, National
Museum of Natural History, and he was about to embark on a
brilliant career.
Vicki Funk recalls the sorrow of events a few years later,
when she and Rich took the train together to New York to
visit Donn Rosen just before Donn’s untimely death (1929–
1986). While the ride up was a happy time reminiscing about
all of Donn’s advice and the fun they had during their
respective tenures in New York, the afternoon visit was
shocking and sad, and the trip back was spent trying to
maintain control. Neither talked about it again until Rich was
coping with his own illness, but the event illustrates the deep
and meaningful relationship that Rich forged with his own
mentor. That relationship likely inspired his dedicated
mentorship of many others later in his career.
Postdoctoral years.—Before landing his iconic curatorial job
at the Smithsonian, Rich completed two postdoctoral
fellowships. The first (1977–1978) was funded by NATO/
NSF (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the US
National Science Foundation) at the British Museum (Natural
History), London, while the second (1978–1979) was at the
Smithsonian. Rich came to the BM(NH) to work in the
Freshwater Fish Section, headed by the late Peter Humphry
Greenwood and with other outstanding (now deceased)
148 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017
ichthyologists, including Ethelwynn Trewavas, Rosemary
Lowe-McConnell, Alwyne Wheeler, and Gordon John
Howes. Rich, always friendly and charming, developed
excellent relationships with staff and resident University of
London Ph.D. students Melanie Stiassny and Gordon
McGregor Reid. The BM(NH) was then engaged in an intense
academic debate on the merits of ‘cladism’ over traditional
‘gradism’ in determining phyletic and biogeographical
relationships for fishes and other taxa (see, for example,
Rosen, 1974). Rich, a convinced cladist and product of the
AMNH ‘New York school,’ contributed immensely to semi-
nars and informal discussions in London (Reid, 2016). In this
period, publications advocating cladism often met with
acrimonious and unproductive responses from gradists.
Never enthusiastic about discourse based purely on theory,
Rich felt that the most helpful way to resolve issues was via
well-worked, published examples of cladistic analyses in
establishing well-defined monophyletic groups. He adopted
this approach at the BM(NH) in his now classical study of
citharinid and distichodontid (African characiform) fishes
(Vari, 1979) and continued in this positive mode throughout
his distinguished career. After returning to the USA to join
the NMNH staff (see below), Rich made regular trips back to
London. One of us (GMR) fondly remembers recreational
outings with Rich to visit lesser-known natural history
collections in the UK. One ‘gem’ they saw was the Powell-
Cotton Museum, Kent, which depended heavily on income
from its farmed estate. With characteristic wry humor Rich
said that he was relieved to have secured a job where there
was no need to worry about the cabbage crop.
Career at the Smithsonian.—Rich became a curator in the
Division of Fishes at the NMNH in 1980, with later
promotions to Chairman of the Department of Vertebrate
Zoology for two terms, and Interim Associate Director for
Science. Over a curatorial career spanning nearly four
decades, he authored myriad contributions to systematic
ichthyology particularly focusing on the Neotropical and
African Characiformes and Siluriformes, but in later years
expanding his repertoire into studies of Gymnotiformes. At
the Smithsonian, he published major revisionary studies
Fig. 2. Rich Vari in 2004, surrounded by jars of preserved fishes in the collection at the National Museum of Natural History. Photo by Ali Khawaja,
Smithsonian (image number 2004-11235).
Fig. 3. Unraveling a tangled gillnet in Guatemala, 1974. Left to right:
Donn Rosen, Rich Vari, and unidentified field assistant. Photo courtesy
of the late Carmela Rosen.
Obituaries 149
dealing with Alestidae, Anostomidae, Apteronotidae, Auche-
nipteridae, Cetopsidae, Characidae, Chilodontidae, Ctenolu-
ciidae, Curimatidae, Helogenidae, Prochilodontidae, and
Trichomycteridae, with the extensive series of volumes
treating the osteology, phylogeny, morphometrics, meristics,
and taxonomy of Curimatidae being particularly noteworthy.
When he began his efforts, the systematics of this group had
been in shambles due to maddeningly conservative external
morphology and a nearly hopeless tangle of poorly described
taxa and synonyms. Although it took fifteen years, tens of
thousands of specimens, hundreds of dissections and the
patience to extract dozens of systematic characters from the
hyper-variable gill arches of these externally nondescript,
silvery fishes, his painstaking revisionary work solved the
systematic conundrum. The resulting volumes remain ca-
nonical works, in some cases more than four decades after
their publication.
Rich conducted only occasional field collection trips as a
curator, preferring to devote his travel to studies of the
abundant unprocessed material stored in museums around
the world, or to national and international conferences (Fig.
5). However, together with Carl Ferraris, he participated in
the expedition to Cerro de Neblina, southern Venezuela, in
1984, and accompanied Vicki Funk on trips to Peru and
Nepal in the 1980s. Extended field trips are the best way to
really get to know someone, and 30 days of hiking in Nepal
brought out the best in Rich. He was always even-keeled and
responsible, rarely complained, and was always up for
drinking a Coke, whenever they could be found. One of
Vicki’s favorite photos of Rich was taken on the rope-bridge
over the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal (Fig. 6).
Rich met his future wife Ann (ne´e McKim Williams) in
1985 during this phase of career, when she began a volunteer
position in the Division of Fishes, and two weeks thereafter
accidentally smashed a fluorescent lightbulb all over his desk!
In a 2016 conversation at their home, Ann recounts that they
quickly bonded over a shared sense of humor, natural history
documentaries (including a memorable one on naked mole
rats), a mutual interest in African fishes, and of course Rich’s
famous cooking. Ann recounts that from the very first, Rich
displayed the dedication, protectiveness, and caring that
characterized his approach to his family and his mentees
alike, citing early morning visits to see her in the hospital
during a bout of appendicitis in the first year of their
relationship. During the ensuing courtship, Rich won Ann’s
mother over by demonstrating his ability to serve asparagus
one-handed using a fork and spoon, which was apparently
much more impressive than his curatorship! Gordon remem-
bers how honored he felt when asked by Rich and Ann to be
Fig. 4. Rich Vari in Suriname, South
America, 1980, holding a newly
captured and preserved electric eel.
Photo by L. R. Parenti.
Fig. 5. Rich Vari (and a hippopotamus) at the shore on Lake
Tanganyika, September 21, 2013, at the fifth international conference
of the Pan-African Fish and Fisheries Association (PAFFA) in Bujumbura,
Burundi. Photo courtesy of Fabio di Dario.
150 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017
‘best man’ at their wedding in Washington, 1987, which
followed a brief engagement.
Mentorship and sociological impact.—From shortly after he
began working at the Smithsonian, Rich’s lab was a beehive
of activity. Rich used his position to identify funding
opportunities to bring ichthyologists into the Smithsonian
Fish Division for visits lasting from a few days to years, as
well as to encourage self-funded visitors to use the Smithso-
nian as a base for collection study trips throughout the
country. At the Museum, Rich became the ‘‘go to’’ person for
anyone who wanted to interact with Brazilian colleagues and
students. Time and again he would share his knowledge of
the regulations and procedures for collaboration. He, of
course, had everything outlined and sample documents
available! Overall, he hosted 115 fellows, associates, interns,
and students at the museum and served on doctoral and
master’s degree committees at institutions in the U.S. and
abroad, including those of the first and fifth authors of this
retrospective. He provided his mentees not only with space
and access to the collections and library but also sounding
boards for help with scientific problems and solutions to the
logistic issues that many foreign visitors faced during their
stays. The level of scientific assistance that Rich provided,
even on taxonomic groups that he had not studied
previously, often resulted in his becoming a collaborator
and coauthor on his visitors’ projects. In addition to
interactions with Rich (as well as with other Smithsonian
ichthyologists), visitors to his bustling lab often found
themselves meeting, or rekindling relationships with, mem-
bers of the Neotropical ichthyological community whom
they might otherwise not have much chance to see in
person, which undoubtedly led to any number of otherwise
unlikely collaborative studies.
Although Rich’s scientific output covered different conti-
nents and both freshwater and marine taxa, it was in
Neotropical freshwaters that his heart most obviously lay.
His fieldwork and museum visits were generously supported
by the Smithsonian’s Neotropical Lowland Research Program
in which he was a Principal Investigator from 1994 through
2004. Rich developed a marvelous connection of friends and
collaborators from throughout South America. Coauthors
include researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecua-
dor, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
His extraordinary human and scientific qualities assured a
synergy of productivity and empathy with people from
different cultures and backgrounds that can only be
described as amazing. In all the countries he visited, he
engendered feelings of admiration, gratitude, and pure joy in
his pleasant company. In Brazil particularly, his collabora-
tions were vast and spanned the entire spectrum of his
research activities, from alpha taxonomy to molecular
phylogenetics. Such liaisons started in 1988 and continue
to this day with several papers still in press with coauthors,
some decades younger. It is hard to find a Brazilian
ichthyologist active today, of any generation, who did not
benefit from his influence, sometimes decisively so. Richard
Vari was certainly the most important foreign benefactor of
ichthyology in Brazil’s history, and is a contender for the
most important foreign collaborator ever in any branch of
Brazilian zoology.
Worldwide, there are many people whose careers were
shaped by Rich Vari, and a substantial number whose careers
would not have existed without him. Although Rich never
served as a major professor for a Ph.D. student, he was quite
active in formally training young ichthyologists. At the
Smithsonian, he directed summer internships for eight
undergraduate students (often co-publishing with them)
and hosted several postdocs who received funding from the
Smithsonian, as well as serving as a mentor for others who
received their funding elsewhere. Mauricio Torres, an
undergraduate intern from Colombia, wrote in an August 6,
2004 letter of thanks to the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives
Fund that ‘‘The entire process, from a jar full of strange fishes
to the submission of a manuscript has been very exciting to
me, and with the support of the great professional that my
advisor is, it was also edifying. He has treated me as a
developing colleague, giving me confidence to express my
points of view during interesting discussions. We also have
had time to talk about career options in Neotropical
ichthyology, which gave me a better foundation on which
to plan for my upcoming graduate studies.’’ Another section
of the same letter reads: ‘‘I’m telling all this to explain that I
learned this summer that high level scientists are real people,
and if they can do great things in science, then I guess people
like me can too.’’ In the 12 years since, Torres has gone on to
establish his own notable career, with 13 peer reviewed
publications, four of which appear in Copeia.
Overall, Rich served on committees for four master’s
students and 17 Ph.D. students who received their respective
degrees at 13 different schools. Those doctoral students
include an author of this memorial, Brian Sidlauskas, who
worked together with Rich on the systematics and evolution
of anostomoid fishes ever since his first visit to the
Smithsonian in 2002 as a nervous beginning graduate
student. Brian’s chosen thesis topic at the University of
Chicago turned out to overlap a project that Rich had just
begun, and Rich could have easily turned him away and
defended the intellectual turf onto which the much younger
scientist had inadvertently trodden. Being who he was, when
confronted with an awkward and stammering student who
had encroached on one of his major projects, Rich extended
a hand of welcome and encouragement rather than a
dismissal. This specific choice on Rich’s part represented
one the most pivotal and formative moments in Brian’s own
career, which led to a successful thesis, numerous co-
authored publications, a major grant from the National
Science Foundation, and fourteen years of collaboration.
Another author of this essay, Mario de Pinna, first met Rich
in Rio de Janeiro in 1987 during a workshop on Neotropical
Fig. 6. Rich Vari on a rope bridge over the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal,
mid 1980s. Photo by Vicki Funk.
Obituaries 151
distribution patterns (later published as Vanzolini and Heyer,
1988) and was amazed at how the famous Vari treated him,
an unknown young undergraduate, with the same attention
and respect he afforded the great established names at the
event. The same can be said for dozens of others whose
careers he promoted and actualized.
Service.—Rich’s dedication to service rivaled his prodigious
publication record and his pattern of outstanding mentor-
ship. He held the presidency of the Biological Society of
Washington, helped edit five journals, tirelessly and fre-
quently reviewed for those journals and a variety of others,
and advised the governments of Suriname and South Africa
on biodiversity conservation and collection-building. Rich’s
advice on the design of a new collection facility at the South
African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity reaped unexpected
rewards when Paul Skelton sent a coelacanth specimen for
display in the Smithsonian’s Sant Ocean Hall in thanks,
esteem, and reciprocity.
Rich’s service to ASIH began as a new graduate student and
continued until shortly before his death. Until the past few
years, he regularly attended the annual meeting and often
gave well-organized presentations of his then-ongoing
research, one of which earned him the Stoye Award. In
service to the society, Rich served a five-year term on the
Board of Governors, three-year terms on the Nominating
committee and Gibbs’ Award committee, and judged for the
Stoye Award on several occasions. As he stated to several of
us, Rich felt that he was best able to contribute to the society
by helping to maintain a strong Copeia. To that end, he
published 33 papers in the journal and served on the
Editorial Board continuously since 2000. But his most
remarkable contribution was in his prodigious number of
manuscript reviews. During the past 15 years alone, he
reviewed 86 manuscripts, or nearly six per year. His reviews
were thorough, with hand written comments placed directly
onto the manuscript that improved the presentation of
already acceptable manuscripts or pointed to ways that
others could be brought to an acceptable level of scholarship.
Although Copeia protocol prohibits authors from acknowl-
edging the assistance of peer reviewers in the published
paper, Rich’s detailed, useful comments and distinctive style
of review undoubtedly led to his name finding its way into
the acknowledgments of some papers for other reasons. Chris
Beachy, the current editor for Copeia, writes: ‘‘In my time,
Rich has clearly been the best reviewer in the ASIH. Scott
[Schaefer] echoes this for his time as editor, and I suspect the
others before him would report the same. Rich has been our
most prolific reviewer (as many as 10 in a year) and he was
always professional, excellent and very fast. The kids these
days could do with following this model. He has been one of
the very best servants to the ASIH.’’ Clearly, Rich’s contribu-
tion to the editorial process of Copeia will be hard to replace.
At the Smithsonian, Rich served as Chair of the NMNH’s
Department of Vertebrate Zoology for two terms, from 2005
to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2014. Rich had an
independent style of management; rather than try to reach
a consensus, he would listen to all sides of an argument and
then make a decision that was not necessarily the most
popular, but one that he thought was the best. Perhaps one
of Rich’s most signature managerial traits (endearing for
many and, at times, annoying to those who tend to
procrastinate), was his ability to execute unwelcome tasks
in an efficient and timely manner. He clearly thought it was
better to go ahead and finish the task (such as moving his
office) in his usual excellent fashion, and he simply could not
abide those who waited until the last minute. This relentless
drive to complete tasks ahead of schedule, combined with his
independent management style, ruffled a few feathers and
scales. But, he always made his decisions based on what he
thought was in the best interest of the Museum.
His reasoned counsel on the workings of a large natural
history museum was sought through his appointment to the
Smithsonian-wide Redesign Task Force. His last administra-
tive appointment, in late 2014, was as Interim Associate
Director for Science at the NMNH, another deeply time-
consuming position critical to the operation of one of the
world’s great natural history museums. His dedication was
such that he carried on as Associate Director through most of
his illness. His willingness to take on such tasks, even as they
pulled him from his research, and later, his sickbed, perhaps
stemmed from the respect for natural history museums that
he absorbed during his formative years at the AMNH.
Family life, personality, and hobbies.—Lists of publications,
mentees, and accomplishments may capture the most
tangible impacts of a life in science, but can fail to
encapsulate the human spirit. Those who knew Rich
recognized that his sterling personal qualities exceeded even
his admirable scientific acumen. Unfailingly polite, calm,
cordial, humorous, generous, and egalitarian, he seemed to
be on a first name basis with everyone at the Smithsonian
from the director to the janitors, who asked frequently for
updates during his eventual illness. Visitors to the lab often
discovered small, anonymous gifts of chocolate, cookies, and
coffee at their desks in the afternoons (though we all knew
that these came from Rich). Even more treasured were the
hours we spent talking about science, world affairs, classical
music, favorite recipes, or family matters, often with a gentle
operatic aria playing in the background.
Rich regularly baked amazing cookies and cakes for the
Division of Fishes’ Friday morning coffee gatherings, and
frequently shared them with non-Fishes staff, such as Vicki
Funk, on their shared morning train ride. They often used
this time to talk about research and Museum politics, which
evolved into a special time to catch up and to test out
possible solutions to problems. Robert Hersher (Department
of Invertebrate Zoology) was also a regular recipient during
the regular 6:30 coffee break that he and Rich shared on
Friday morning (a ritual that lasted nearly 20 years). Rich was
especially well known for his oatmeal cookies (he had many
versions), so much so that several members of the staff baked
cookies for his memorial.
He was a dedicated family man, rearranging his work
schedule after the births of his children Thomas (1988) and
Ellen (1991) to begin at 6:00 am and to end at 3:00 pm sharp.
In so doing, he arrived home in time to attend sporting
events and to cook the gourmet Italian meals for which he
was famous, a passion that he passed on to Thomas. To
maintain this schedule Rich regularly took the first train
(5:07) from home to the Museum. A small, secret packet
discovered in his desk at the museum contained all the
contributions that his children laid out for the Tooth Fairy,
which had clearly been whisked away during those early
morning sojourns so that they would not be discovered at
home. For Halloween and school plays, he would assemble
new costumes for the children using hot glue and fabric. He
served as the president of his neighborhood association,
regularly judged local science fairs, and delivered mini-
lectures to grade school classrooms. After his daughter Ellen
152 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017
brought guinea pigs home from school, he became the
family’s chief steward of rodent welfare, sneaking a nod to
G.P. (Guinea Pig) Duke into a published acknowledgments
section and even staying home one Thanksgiving to
medicate an ailing pet. He brimmed with pride at his
offspring’s later successes in pursuing academic qualifications
and adult careers, as seen in a photo captured at Ellen’s 2009
graduation (Fig. 7).
Rich was an effective communicator throughout his life,
constantly writing, talking on the phone, or typing out
detailed emails. Many of these messages were devoted to
facilitating logistics for students and colleagues, but he also
loved a good joke or an opportunity to tease, and sometimes
found ways to combine the two. Lynne Parenti recounts that
during Rich’s postdoc in London, she planned a visit there to
examine holdings of African killifishes as part of her doctoral
research. Naturally, she wrote to Rich and asked for his advice
on hotels and other travel details. He was helpful, of course,
but couldn’t resist a little jab. His typed reply came on a blue
Aerogram dated August 5, 1977 (R. P. Vari, in litt.): ‘‘I have
checked around about your coming in November and the
only major problem is the yearly outbreak of werewolves
which usually occurs at that time. However, I think we
should be able to get you a werewolf-proof office, even
though I am sure that they would like some wholesome
american [sic] blood.’’ Through it all he kept a good sense of
humor and didn’t mind (well, almost always didn’t mind)
being the butt of a good joke himself. In many ways, Lynne
considered Rich to have been the big brother she never had.
Rich’s pranks could be quite elaborate and long-lasting.
When Mario de Pinna was his postdoc at the Smithsonian,
Rich would secretly come in his office and randomly insert
papers on byzantine subjects amidst his ichthyology reprint
collection. So, over the years Mario has regularly encountered
inexplicable items on subjects such as ‘‘ice-cap variation in
Greenland in the years 1969–1970,’’ or on ‘‘performativity of
shamanic rituals in New Guinean pottery.’’ As a follow-up on
the prank, Mario would periodically resend the found items
back to Rich in anonymous packages labeled ‘‘Confidential.’’
Incredibly enough, at least once Rich actually brought such
returned bibliographic items in his luggage during a
subsequent visit to Sa˜o Paulo and smuggled them again into
Mario’s reprint files, where now they remain with Sisyphean
obstinacy. But Rich also relished in far less subtle trickery. At
one point he developed a liking for inserting the odd heavy
brick into Mario’s backpack. Not very flatteringly to his sense
of awareness, Mario fell more than once for such a ruse,
sometimes carrying the load unsuspectingly (but uncomfort-
ably) for days.
Illness and passing.—Rich’s brilliant life and career ended too
soon after a year-long struggle with gastric cancer. Fatigue
and weight loss apparent at the meetings of the Brazilian
Ichthyological Society in Recife in February 2015 soon
revealed themselves symptomatic of a deeper problem.
Though he maintained much hope and optimism through
increasingly debilitating rounds of chemotherapy, Rich’s
condition worsened rapidly throughout his final year and
was aggravated by numerous secondary infections. He found
much relief in frequent communications with family, friends,
and collaborators, acupuncture, and the painstakingly de-
tailed edits to collaborative manuscripts for which he was
famous, and which he continued from his hospital bed until
just months before his passing. After struggling to make it
through the year-end holidays Rich declined quickly, and
died at home in Fairfax County, Virginia on January 15, 2016
in the company of his family. He was 66 years old. A
celebration of his life held at the Smithsonian on January 29,
2016 attracted hundreds of colleagues, family members, and
friends, including many who traveled far to pay their final
respects.
Concluding remarks.—The legacy that Rich Vari leaves behind
measures greatly indeed, and it is difficult to imagine a more
fulfilling life. The scientific community will long cherish his
Fig. 7. The Vari family at Ellen’s
undergraduate graduation in 2009.
Left to right: Rich, Ann, Ellen, and
Thomas. Photo courtesy of Ann Vari.
Obituaries 153
meticulous, beautiful publications and his ceaseless encour-
agement and support of new generations of scientists. His
family will remember his steadfast love, tireless dedication,
and gentle spirit. His colleagues will remember his wise
counsel, humanistic approach to leadership, and enduring
support for all members of his team, no matter their rank or
position. And for our part, we will remember the friend who
extended his hand in welcome and encouragement, shared
freely of his joy, wisdom, and humor, and helped us along
our own journeys. It now falls to all who knew Rich to do
their best to emulate his scientific acumen, care for his fellow
humans, strong leadership, and dedicated mentorship. We
can think of no greater way to honor his memory.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ann Vari for providing
numerous facts and anecdotes about Rich’s early life and
family life during an interview at their home on January 30,
2016. We also thank Mauricio Torres for permission to quote
from his inspiring 2004 letter. Mary Sangrey kindly compiled
information on Rich’s mentorship activities at the Smithso-
nian, provided a copy of Rich’s complete curriculum vitae,
and supplied the photograph from the Smithsonian archives
that appears as Figure 2. Fabio di Dario provided numerous
photographs of Rich from the 2013 PAFFA conference, one of
which appears as Figure 5 herein. Thomas Orrell thoughtfully
supplied a list of taxa named in Rich’s honor.
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PUBLICATIONS BY RICHARD P. VARI
Vari, R. P. 1977. Notes on the characoid subfamily Iguano-
dectinae, with a description of a new species. American
Museum Novitates 2612:1–6.
Vari, R. P. 1978. The genus Leptagoniates (Pisces: Characoi-
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Biological Society of Washington 91:184–190.
Vari, R. P. 1978. The terapon perches (Percoidei, Teraponi-
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Vari, R. P., and J. B. Hutchins. 1978. New species of terapon
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Vari, R. P. 1979. Anatomy, relationships and classification of
the families Citharinidae and Distichodontidae (Pisces,
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Vari, R. P., and J. Ge´ry. 1980. Cheirodon ortegai, a new
markedly sexually dimorphic cheirodontine (Pisces: Char-
154 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017
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Biological Society of Washington 93:75–82.
Vari, R. P., and J. Ge´ry. 1981. Nannocharax maculicauda, a
new species of African characoid fish (Characoidea:
Distichodontidae) with comments on the genus Hemi-
grammocharax. Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington 94:1076–1084.
Vari, R. P. 1982. Hemiodopsis ocellatus, a new hemiodontid
characoid fish (Pisces, Characoidea) from western Surinam.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 95:
188–193.
Vari, R. P. 1982. [Seahorse section]. In: Fishes of the Western
North Atlantic 8:173–189.
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Vari, R. P. 1982. Curimatopsis myersi, a new curimatid
characiform fish (Pisces: Characiformes) from Paraguay.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 95:
788–792.
Vari, R. P. 1983. Phylogenetic relationships of the families
Curimatidae, Prochilodontidae, Anostomidae and Chilo-
dontidae (Pisces, Characiformes). Smithsonian Contribu-
tions to Zoology 378:iiiþ1–60.
Vari, R. P., S. L. Jewett, D. Taphorn, and C. Gilbert. 1984. A
new catfish of the genus Epapterus (Siluriformes: Auche-
nipteridae) from the Orinoco River basin. Proceedings of
the Biological Society of Washington 97:464–474.
Vari, R. P. 1984. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform
genus Potamorhina (Pisces, Characiformes). Smithsonian
Contributions to Zoology 400:iiiþ1–36.
Vari, R. P. 1984. Family and species sheets for the family
Teraponidae, 13 unnumbered p. In: FAO Species Identifi-
cation Sheets for Fisheries Purposes, Western Indian Ocean
(Fishing Area 51). Food and Agricultural Organization of
the United Nations, Rome.
Vari, R. P. 1984. Family sheets for the family Ambassidae, 2
unnumbered p. In: FAO Species Identification Sheets for
Fisheries Purposes, Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area
51). Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations, Rome.
Vari, R. P. 1984. Two new species of the genus Curimata from
Venezuela. Acta Biologica Venezuelica 11(4, for 1983):27–
43.
Vari, R. P. 1985. A new species of Bivibranchia (Pisces:
Characiformes) from Surinam, with comments on the
genus. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington
98:507–518.
Vari, R. P., and J. Ge´ry. 1985. A new curimatid fish
(Characiformes, Curimatidae) from the Amazon basin.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 98:
1030–1034.
Vari, R. P., and M. Goulding. 1985. A new species of
Bivibranchia (Pisces: Characiformes) from the Amazon
River basin. Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington 98:1054–1061.
Vari, R. P. 1986. Teraponidae, p. 304–305. In: Checklist of the
Freshwater Fishes of Africa, Volume 2. ORSTOM, Paris.
Vari, R. P. 1986. Serrabrycon magoi, a new genus and species
of scale-eating characid (Pisces: Characiformes) from the
upper Rı´o Negro. Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington 99:328–334.
Ortega, H., and R. P. Vari. 1986. Annotated checklist of the
freshwater fishes of Peru. Smithsonian Contributions to
Zoology 437:ivþ1–25.
Vari, R. P., and H. Nijssen. 1986. Curimata punctata, a new
uniquely pigmented species of curimatid from the Mor-
awijne River basin of Surinam and French Guiana (Pisces,
Characiformes). Beaufortia 36:51–55.
Vari, R. P., and H. Ortega. 1986. The catfishes of the
Neotropical family Helogenidae (Ostariophysi: Siluroidei).
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 442:iiiþ1–20.
Weitzman, M., and R. P. Vari. 1986. Astyanax scologaster, a
distinctive new species from the upper Rı´o Negro of
Venezuela. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Wash-
ington 99:707–714.
Vari, R. P., and A. M. Williams. 1987. Headstanders of the
Neotropical anostomid genus Abramites (Pisces, Characi-
formes). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Wash-
ington 100:89–104.
Vari, R. P. 1987. Two new species of curimatid fishes
(Ostariophysi: Characiformes) from Rio Grande do Sul,
Brazil. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington
100:603–609.
Weitzman, S. H., and R. P. Vari. 1987. Two new species and
a new genus of miniature characid fishes (Pisces: Char-
aciformes) from northern South America. Proceedings of
the Biological Society of Washington 100:640–652.
Vari, R. P., and R. Castro. 1988. Prochilodus stigmaturus
Fowler, reassigned to the Curimatidae from the Prochilo-
dontidae, with comments on other nominal curimatid and
prochilodontid species treated by Fowler. Copeia 1988:
777–780.
Weitzman, S. H., and R. P. Vari. 1988. Miniaturization in
South American freshwater fishes; an overview and
discussion. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Wash-
ington 101:444–465.
Vari, R. P. 1988. The Curimatidae, a lowland Neotropical
family (Pisces: Characiformes); distribution, endemism,
and phylogenetic biogeography, p. 313–348. In: Neotrop-
ical Distribution Patterns: Proceedings of a Workshop. P. E.
Vanzolini and W. R. Heyer (eds.). Academia Brasiliera de
Cieˆncias, Rio de Janeiro.
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characiform family Curimatidae (Pisces, Ostariophysi).
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 471:ivþ1–71.
Vari, R. P., and A. Williams Vari. 1989. Systematics of the
Steindachnerina hypostoma complex (Pisces, Ostariophysi,
Curimatidae), with the description of three new species.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 102:
468–482.
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genus Pseudocurimata (Pisces, Ostariophysi). Smithsonian
Contributions to Zoology 490:iiiþ1–28.
Vari, R. P. 1989. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform
genus Curimata Bosc (Pisces, Characiformes). Smithsonian
Contributions to Zoology 474:iiiþ1–63.
Vari, R. P. 1989. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform
genus Psectrogaster Eigenmann and Eigenmann (Pisces,
Characiformes). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
481:iiiþ1–43.
Vari, R. P., and D. Siebert. 1990. A new, unusually sexually
dimorphic species of Bryconamericus (Pisces: Ostariophysi:
Characidae) from the Peruvian Amazon. Proceedings of the
Biological Society of Washington 103:516–524.
Castro, R., and R. P. Vari. 1990. Moojenichthys Miranda-
Ribeiro (Ostariophysi, Characidae), a phylogenetic reap-
praisal and redescription. Proceedings of the Biological
Society of Washington 103:525–542.
Obituaries 155
Vari, R. P., and R. Barriga S. 1990. Cyphocharax pantostictos, a
new curimatid (Ostariophysi, Characiformes, Curimatidae)
from the western portions of the Amazon basin. Proceed-
ings of the Biological Society of Washington 103:550–557.
Vari, R. P., and S. H. Weitzman. 1990. A review of the
phylogenetic biogeography of the freshwater fishes of
South America, p. 381–393. In: Vertebrates in the Tropics.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Vertebrate
Biogeography and Systematics in the Tropics, Bonn, June
5–8, 1989. G. Peters and R. Hutterer (eds.). Alexander
Koenig Zoological Research Institute and Zoological Muse-
um, Bonn.
Vari, R. P., and S. J. Raredon. 1991. The genus Schizodon
(Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Anostomidae) in Venezuela; a
reappraisal. Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington 104:12–22.
Vari, R. P. 1991. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform
genus Steindachnerina Fowler (Pisces: Ostariophysi). Smith-
sonian Contributions to Zoology 507:iiiþ1–118.
Vari, R. P., and J. C. Howe. 1991. Catalog of type specimens
of Recent fishes in the National Museum of Natural
History, Smithsonian Institution. 1. Characiformes (Tele-
ostei, Ostariophysi). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoolo-
gy 517:iiiþ1–52.
Vari, R. P. 1992. Redescription of Mesopristes elongatus
(Guichenot, 1866), an endemic Malagasy fish species
(Pisces, Terapontidae). American Museum Novitates 3039:
1–7.
Vari, R. P. 1992. Systematics of the Neotropical curimatid
genus Curimatella Eigenmann and Eigenmann (Pisces,
Ostariophysi), with summary comments on the family.
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 533:1–48.
Vari, R. P. 1992. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform
genus Cyphocharax Fowler (Pisces, Ostariophysi). Smithso-
nian Contributions to Zoology 529:1–137.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 1992. Catalog of type
specimens of Recent fishes in the National Museum of
Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. 4. Gonorynchi-
formes, Gymnotiformes, and Siluriformes (Teleostei, Ostar-
iophysi). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 535:1–52.
Vari, R. P. 1993. On the status of the nominal curimatid
species Steindachnerina varii Ge´ry et al. 1991 and S. runa
Vari, 1991 (Ostariophysi, Characiformes). Copeia 1993:
894–896.
Vari, R. P., A. S. Harold, C. A. Lasso, and A. Machado-
Allison. 1993. Creagrutus lepidus, a new species from the
Rı´o Aroa system, Yaracuy State, Venezuela (Teleostei,
Characiformes, Characidae). Ichthyological Exploration
of Freshwaters 4:351–355.
Harold, A. S., and R. P. Vari. 1994. Systematics of the trans-
Andean species of Creagrutus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes:
Characidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 551:
1–31.
Vari, R. P., A. S. Harold, and D. C. Taphorn. 1994.
Creagrutus melasma, a new species of characid fish (Tele-
ostei: Characiformes) from upland streams of northern
Venezuela. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Wash-
ington 107:90–96.
Harold, A. S., R. P. Vari, A. Machado-Allison, and F.
Provenzano. 1994. Creagrutus hysginus (Teleostei: Characi-
formes), a new species of characid from northwestern
Venezuela, Sucre State. Copeia 1994:975–979.
Vari, R. P. 1995. The Neotropical characiform fish family
Ctenoluciidae (Teleostei, Ostariophysi): supra and intrafa-
milial phylogenetic relationships, with a revisionary study.
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 564:1–97.
de Pinna, M. C. C., and R. P. Vari. 1995. Monophyly and
phylogenetic diagnosis of the Cetopsidae, with synonym-
ization of the Helogenidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes). Smith-
sonian Contributions to Zoology 571:1–26.
Vari, R. P., R. Castro, and S. Raredon. 1995. The Neotropical
fish family Chilodontidae (Teleostei, Characiformes); a
phylogenetic study and a revision of Caenotropus Gu¨nther.
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 577:1–32.
Vari, R. P., and T. Blackledge. 1996. Cyphocharax laticlavius,
a new curimatid fish (Ostariophysi, Characiformes) from
Amazonian Ecuador, with a major range extension for C.
gouldingi. Copeia 1996:109–113.
Vari, R. P., A. S. Harold, and H. Ortega. 1996. Creagrutus
kunturus, a new species from Western Amazonian Peru and
Ecuador (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae). Ichthyo-
logical Exploration of Freshwaters 6:289–296.
Vari, R. P., and R. E. Reis. 1996. Curimata acutirostris, a new
fish (Teleostei: Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Rio
Araguaia, Brazil: description and phylogenetic relation-
ships. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 6:297–
304.
Vari, R. P., and H. Ortega. 1997. A new Chilodus species from
southeastern Peru (Ostariophysi; Characiformes; Chilo-
dontidae): description and phylogenetic discussion, with
comments on the distribution of other members of the
family. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 8:71–80.
Malabarba, L. R., R. E. Reis, R. P. Vari, Z. M. S. Lucena, and
C. A. S. Lucena. 1998. Preface, p. i–ii. In: Phylogeny and
Classification of Neotropical Fishes. L. R. Malabarba, R. E.
Reis, R. P. Vari, Z. M. S. Lucena, and C. A. S. Lucena (eds.).
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ichthyology: an overview, p. 1–11. In: Phylogeny and
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EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Vari, R. P. 1998. Higher level phylogenetic concepts within
Characiformes (Ostariophysi), a historical review, p. 111–
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L. R. Malabarba, R. E. Reis, R. P. Vari, Z. M. S. Lucena, and C.
A. S. Lucena (eds.). EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Vari, R. P., and A. S. Harold. 1998. The genus Creagrutus
(Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae): monophyly, rela-
tionships, and undetected diversity, p. 245–260. In:
Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes. L. R.
Malabarba, R. E. Reis, R. P. Vari, Z. M. S. Lucena, and C. A. S.
Lucena (eds.). EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 1998. The Neotropical
catfish genus Epapterus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): a
reappraisal. Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington 111:992–1007.
Kress, W. J., W. R. Heyer, P. Acevedo, J. Coddington, D.
Cole, T. L. Erwin, B. J. Meggers, M. Pogue, R. W.
Thorington, R. P. Vari, M. J. Weitzman, and S. H.
Weitzman. 1999. Amazonian biodiversity: assessing con-
servation priorities with taxonomic data. Biodiversity and
Conservation 7:1577–1587.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 1999. The South American
catfish genus Auchenipterus (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes:
Auchenipteridae): monophyly and relationships, with a
revisionary study. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society 126:387–450.
156 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017
Heyer, W. R., J. Coddington, W. J. Kress, P. Acevedo, D.
Cole, T. L. Erwin, B. J. Meggers, M. Pogue, R. W.
Thorington, R. P. Vari, M. J. Weitzman, and S. H.
Weitzman. 2000. Amazonian biotic data and conservation
decisions. Ciencia e Cultura 51:372–385 (dated 1999,
issued March 2000).
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 2000. The deep-water South
American catfish genus Pseudepapterus Steindachner 1915
(Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae. Ichthyologi-
cal Exploration of Freshwaters 11:97–112.
Vari, R. P., and H. Ortega. 2000. Attonitus, a new genus of
sexually dimorphic characiforms (Ostariophysi: Characi-
dae) from western Amazonia; a phylogenetic definition
and description of three new species. Ichthyological
Exploration of Freshwaters 11:113–140.
Malabarba, L. R., and R. P. Vari. 2000. Caiapobrycon tucurui,
a new genus and species of characid from the Rio Tocantins
basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae). Ichthyological
Exploration of Freshwaters 11:315–326.
Ferna´ndez, L., and R. P. Vari. 2000. New species of
Trichomycterus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) lacking a pelvic fin
and girdle from the Andes of Argentina. Copeia 2000:990–
996.
Oliveira, J. C. de, R. P. Vari, and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2001. A
new species of ‘‘whale catfish’’ (Siluriformes, Cetopsidae)
from the western portions of the Amazon basin. Proceed-
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Vari, R. P., and A. S. Harold. 2001. Phylogenetic study of the
Neotropical fish genera Creagrutus Gu¨nther and Piabina
Reinhardt (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes), with a
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Ferna´ndez, L., and R. P. Vari. 2002. New species of
Trichomycterus from the Andes of Argentina, with a
redescription of T. alternus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteri-
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Vari, R. P. 2003. Family Curimatidae, p. 51–64. In: Checklist
of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. R.
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Fishes of South and Central America. R. E. Reis, S. O.
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Vari, R. P. 2003. Family Ctenoluciidae, p. 252–253. In:
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Vari, R. P., and F. C. T. Lima. 2003. New species of Creagrutus
(Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae) from the Rio
Uaupe´s basin, Brazil. Copeia 2003:583–587.
Vari, R. P., C. J. Ferraris, Jr., and P. Keith. 2003. A new
Pseudocetopsis species (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae) from Sur-
iname and French Guiana. Proceedings of the Biological
Society of Washington 116:692–698.
Castro, R., R. P. Vari, F. Vieira, and C. Oliveira. 2004. The
genus Henochilus (Characiformes: Characidae); a redescrip-
tion of the species and phylogenetic analyses. Copeia
2004:496–506.
Castro, R., and R. P. Vari. 2004. The South American
characiform family Prochilodontidae (Ostariophysi: Char-
aciformes): a phylogenetic and revisionary study. Smithso-
nian Contributions to Zoology 622:vþ1–189.
Castro, R. M. C., and R. P. Vari. 2004. Astyanax biotae, a new
species of tetragonopterin stream fish from the Rio Para-
napanema basin, upper Rio Parana´ system, southeastern
Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae). Proceedings of the
Biological Society of Washington 117:330–338.
Benine, R. C., C. Z. P. Dardis, and R. P. Vari. 2004.
Tetragonopterus lemniscatus (Characiformes: Characidae), a
new species from the Corantijn River basin in Suriname.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 117:
339–345.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2004. A new species of
Nannocharax (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from Ca-
meroon with comments on contact organs and breeding
tubercles in the genus. Proceedings of the Biological
Society of Washington 117:551–563.
Ferna´ndez, L., and R. P. Vari. 2004. New species of
Trichomycterus from mid-elevation localities of northwest-
ern Argentina (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Copeia
2002:876–881.
Carvalho, M. R., F. Bockmann, D. Amorim, M. de Vivo, M.
de Toledo-Piza, N. Menezes, R. Castro, A. Gill, J.
McEachran, L. Compagno, R. Schelly, R. Britz, R. P.
Vari, and G. Nelson. 2005. Revisiting the taxonomic
impediment. Letters to the Editor, Science 307:353.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., R. P. Vari, and S. J. Raredon. 2005.
Catfishes of the genus Auchenipterichthys (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): a revisionary study. Neo-
tropical Ichthyology 3:89–106.
Vari, R. P., Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and M. C. C. de Pinna. 2005.
Neotropical catfishes of the subfamily Cetopsinae (Ostar-
iophysi: Siluriformes: Cetopsidae); a revisionary study.
Neotropical Ichthyology 3:127–238.
Zanata, A. M., and R. P. Vari. 2005. The family Alestidae
(Ostariophysi, Characiformes); a phylogenetic analysis of a
trans-Atlantic clade. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society 145:1–144.
Castro, R., L. Casatti, H. F. Santos, R. P. Vari, A. L. A. Melo,
L. S. F. Martins, T. X. Abreu, R. C. Benine, F. Z. Gibran, A.
C. Ribeiro, F. A. Bockmann, M. Carvalho, G. Z. P.
Pelic¸a˜o, K. M. Ferreira, R. Stopiglia, and A. Akama. 2005.
Structure and composition of the stream ichthyofauna of
four tributary rivers of the upper Rio Parana´ Basin, Brazil.
Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 16:193–214.
Torres-Meija, M., and R. P. Vari. 2005. New species of
Creagrutus (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae) from the
Rı´o Magdalena basin, Colombia. Copeia 2005:812–817.
Vari, R. P., and F. Chang. 2006. Cyphocharax derhami, a new
species (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Curimatidae) from
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northeastern Peru. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwa-
ters 17:93–96.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2006. The catfish genus
Tetranematichthys (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae). Copeia
2006:168–180.
Vari, R. P., and R. Castro. 2007. A new species of Astyanax
from the upper Rio Parana´ system, Brazil (Ostariophysi:
Characiformes: Characidae). Copeia 2007:150–162.
Vari, R. P., and N. A. Menezes. 2007. Famı´lia Curimatidae, p.
19–23. In: Cata´logo de Peixes de A´gua doce do Brasil. P. A.
Buckup, N. A. Menezes, and M. S. Ghazzi (eds.). Museu
Nacional, Rio de Janeiro.
Castro, R., and R. P. Vari. 2007. Famı´lia Prochilodontidae, p.
23. In: Cata´logo de Peixes de A´gua doce do Brasil. P. A.
Buckup, N. A. Menezes, and M. S. Ghazzi (eds.). Museu
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de Pinna, M. C. C., C. J. Ferraris, Jr., and R. P. Vari. 2007. A
phylogenetic study of the Neotropical catfish family
Cetopsidae (Osteichthyes, Ostariophysi, Siluriformes),
with a new classification. Zoological Journal of the
Linnean Society 150:755–813.
de Carvalho, M., F. Bockmann, D. Amorim, C. Branda˜o,
M. de Vivo, J. de Figueiredo, H. Britski, M. de Pinna, N.
A. Menezes, F. Marques, N. Papavero, E. Cancello, J.
Crisci, J. McEachran, R. Schelly, J. Lundberg, A. Gill, R.
Britz, Q. Wheeler, M. Stiassny, L. Parenti, L. Page, W.
Wheeler, R. Vari, L. Grande, C. Humphries, R. DeSalle,
M. Ebach, and G. Nelson. 2007. Taxonomic impediment
or impediment to taxonomy? A commentary on system-
atics and the cybertaxonomic-automation paradigm. Evo-
lutionary Biology 34:140–143.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 2007. Revision of the
catfishes of the genus Eutropiichthys, with a description of
two new species. Copeia 2007:866–885.
Vari, R. P. 2007. Distichodontidae, p. 412–465. In: Poissons
d’eaux douces et saumaˆtres de Basse Guine´e, oueste de
L’Afrique centrale (The fresh and brackish water fishes of
Lower Guinea, West–Central Africa). M. L. J. Stiassny, G. G.
Teugels, and C. D. Hopkins (eds.). Published by IRD,
MRAC, and AMNH.
Sidlauskas, B., and R. P. Vari. 2008. Phylogenetic relation-
ships within the South American characiform fish family
Anostomidae (Teleostei, Ostariophysi). Zoological Journal
of the Linnean Society 154:70–210.
Lucinda, P. H. F., and R. P. Vari. 2009. New Steindachnerina
species (Teleostei: Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the
Rio Tocantins basin. Copeia 2009:142–147.
Ferna´ndez, L., and R. P. Vari. 2009. New species of
Trichomycterus from the Andean Cordillera of Argentina
(Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Copeia 2009:195–201.
Maldonado-Ocampo, J. A., R. P. Vari, and J. S. Usma. 2009.
Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Colombia. Biota
Colombiana 9:143–237.
de Santana, C. D., and R. P. Vari. 2009. The South American
electric fish genus Platyurosternarchus (Gymnotiformes:
Apteronotidae). Copeia 2009:233–244.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2009. Fishes of the Guiana
Shield, p. 5–18. In: Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of the
Guiana Shield. R. P. Vari, C. J. Ferraris, Jr., A. Radosavljevic,
and V. A. Funk (eds.). Bulletin of the Biological Society of
Washington 17:viiiþ95 pages.
Vari, R. P. 2009. Families Curimatidae, Prochilodontidae,
Anostomidae, Chilodontidae, Ctenoluciidae, Cetopsidae,
p. 26–28, 36. In: Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of the
Guiana Shield. R. P. Vari, C. J. Ferraris, Jr., A. Radosavljevic,
and V. A. Funk (eds.). Bulletin of the Biological Society of
Washington 17:viiiþ95 pages.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2009. New species of
Cetopsidium (Siluriformes, Cetopsidae, Cetopsinae) from
the Rupununi region of Guyana. Neotropical Ichthyology
7:289–293.
de Santana, C. D., and R. P. Vari. 2010. New rheophilic
species of electric knifefish from the rapids and waterfalls
of the Rio Xingu, Brazil (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae).
Copeia 2010:160–164.
de Santana, C. D., and R. P. Vari. 2010. Electric fishes of the
genus Sternarchorhynchus (Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Gymno-
tiformes); phylogenetic and revisionary studies. Zoological
Journal of the Linnean Society 159:223–371.
Vari, R. P., A. M. Zanata, and P. Camilier. 2010. New species
of Cyphocharax (Ostariophysi; Characiformes: Curimati-
dae) from Rio de Contas drainage, Bahia, Brazil. Copeia
2010:382–387.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., P. Skelton, and R. P. Vari. 2010. Species of
the Doumea chappuisi complex (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae)
with the description of two new species from the upper
Sanaga River and Nyong River basins. Copeia 2010:705–
715.
Sidlauskas, B. L., J. Mol, and R. P. Vari. 2011. Dealing with
allometry in linear and geometric morphometrics: a
taxonomic case study in the Leporinus cylindriformis group
(Characiformes: Anostomidae), with description of a new
species from Suriname. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society 162:103–130.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., R. P. Vari, and P. Skelton. 2011. A new
genus of African loach catfish (Siluriformes, Amphiliidae)
from the Congo River basin, the sister group to all other
genera of the Doumeinae, with the description of two new
species. Copeia 2011:477–489.
Netto-Ferreira, A. L., and R. P. Vari. 2011. New species of
Steindachnerina (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Rio
Tapajo´s, Brazil, and review of the genus in the Rio Tapajo´s
and Xingu basins. Copeia 2011:523–529.
Oliveira, C., G. S. Avelino, K. T. Abe, T. C. Mariguela, R. C.
Benine, G. Ortı´, R. P. Vari, and R. Castro. 2011.
Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family
Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based
on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling.
BMC Evolutionary Biology 11:275.
Guisande, C., P. Pelayo-Villamil, M. Vera, A. Manjarre´s-
Herna´ndez, M. R. Carvalho, R. P. Vari, L. F. Jime´nez, C.
Ferna´ndez, P. Martı´nez, E. Prieto-Piraquive, C. Granado-
Lorencio, and S. R. Duque. 2012. Ecological factors and
diversification among Neotropical characiforms. Interna-
tional Journal of Ecology 2012:610419.
Vari, R. P., C. D. de Santana, and W. B. Wosiacki. 2012. The
South American electric fishes of the genus Archolaemus
(Ostariophysi, Gymnotiformes); undetected diversity in a
clade of rheophiles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society 165:670–699.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 2012. Review of the African
catfish genus Andersonia (Teleostei: Siluriformes). Zootaxa
3210:39–49.
Vari, R. P., and R. Hadiaty. 2012. The endemic Sulawesi fish
genus Lagusia (Teleostei: Terapontidae). Raffles Museum
Bulletin 60:123–128.
Vari, R. P., B. Sidlauskas, and P. Y. Le Bail. 2012. New
species of Cyphocharax (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Curi-
matidae) from Suriname and French Guiana and an
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analysis of curimatid diversity in the region. Cybium 36:
63–69.
Sidlauskas, B., and R. P. Vari. 2012. Diversity and distribu-
tion of anostomoid fishes (Teleostei: Characiformes)
throughout the Guianas. Cybium 36:71–103.
Mol, J. H., R. P. Vari, R. Covain, P. W. Willink, and S. Fisch-
Muller. 2012. Annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes
of Suriname. Cybium 36:263–292.
Ballen, G. A., and R. P. Vari. 2012. Neotropical armored
catfishes of the genus Dolichancistrus (Ostariophysi: Silur-
iformes: Loricariidae). Neotropical Ichthyology 10:499–
518.
Bogan, S., B. Sidlauskas, R. P. Vari, and F. Agnolin. 2012.
Arhinolemus scalabrinii Ameghino, 1898, of the late
Miocene—a taxonomic journey from the Mammalia to
the Anostomidae (Ostariophysi, Characiformes). Neotrop-
ical Ichthyology 10:555–560.
de Santana, C. D., and R. P. Vari. 2012. New species of
Adontosternarchus (Gymnotiformes, Apteronotidae) from
the Rio Purus basin, Brazil. Copeia 2012:535–540.
Vari, R. P., C. J. Ferraris, Jr., and P. Skelton. 2012. New
species of Congoglanis (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) from the
southern Congo River basin. Copeia 2012:626–630.
Ferna´ndez, L., and R. P. Vari. 2012. New species of
Trichomycterus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from the Andean
Cordillera of Argentina and second record of the genus in
thermal waters. Copeia 2012:631–636.
Jerep, F., and R. P. Vari. 2013. New species of Hemi-
grammocharax (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from
the northwestern Congo River basin. Copeia 2013:31–37.
Datovo, A., and R. P. Vari. 2013. The jaw adductor muscle
complex in teleostean fishes: evolution, homologies and
revised nomenclature (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii). PLOS
ONE 8:1–23.
de Santana, C. D., and R. P. Vari. 2013. Brown ghost electric
fishes of the Apteronotus leptorhynchus species-group (Ostar-
iophysi, Gymnotiformes): monophyly, major clades and
revision. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 168:
564–596.
de Santana, C. D., R. P. Vari, and W. B. Wosiacki. 2013. The
untold story of the caudal skeleton in the Electric Eel
(Pisces: Ostariophysi: Gymnotidae). PLOS ONE 8:1–8.
Vari, R. P., and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. 2013. Two new species of the
catfish genus Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from
the Guiana Shield and a reevaluation of the limits of the
genus. Copeia 2013:396–402.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., and R. P. Vari. 2013. New species of
Doumea (Siluriformes, Amphiliidae) from the coastal river
systems of the Republic of the Congo. Copeia 2013:577–
581.
Arcila, D., R. P. Vari, and N. A. Menezes. 2013. Revision of
the Neotropical genus Acrobrycon (Ostariophysi: Characi-
formes; Characidae) with description of two new species.
Copeia 2013:604–611.
Vari, R. P., and C. P. Ro¨pke. 2013. Famı´lia Curimatidae, p.
112–139. In: Peixes do Rio Madeira, Volume 1. L. de
Queiroz, G. Torrente-Vilara, W. M. Ohara, R. H. Silva Pires,
J. Zuanon, and C. R. Costa Doria (eds.). UNIR/Energia
Santo Antoˆnio, Porto Velho, Brazil.
de Queiroz, L. J., W. M. Ohara, and R. P. Vari. 2013. Famı´lia
Prochilodontidae, p. 140–145. In: Peixes do Rio Madeira,
Volume 1. L. de Queiroz, G. Torrente-Vilara, W. M. Ohara,
R. H. Silva Pires, J. Zuanon, and C. R. Costa Doria (eds.).
UNIR/Energia Santo Antoˆnio, Porto Velho, Brazil.
Torrente-Vilara, G., L. J. de Queiroz, and R. P. Vari. 2013.
Famı´lia Chilodontidae, p. 166–171. In: Peixes do Rio
Madeira, Volume 1. L. de Queiroz, G. Torrente-Vilara, W.
M. Ohara, R. H. Silva Pires, J. Zuanon, and C. R. Costa Doria
(eds.). UNIR/Energia Santo Antoˆnio, Porto Velho, Brazil.
de Queiroz, L. J., G. Torrente-Vilara, B. S. F. Barros, and R. P.
Vari. 2013. Famı´lia Ctenoluciidae, p. 91–96. In: Peixes do Rio
Madeira, Volume 1. L. de Queiroz, G. Torrente-Vilara, W. M.
Ohara, R. H. Silva Pires, J. Zuanon, and C. R. Costa Doria
(eds.). UNIR/Energia Santo Antoˆnio, Porto Velho, Brazil.
Melo, B. F., B. L. Sidlauskas, K. Hoekzema, R. P. Vari, and
C. Oliveira. 2014. The first molecular phylogeny of
Chilodontidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes)
reveals cryptic biodiversity. Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution 70:286–295.
Fernandez, L., E. Sanbara, L. Quiroga, and R. P. Vari. 2014.
A new species of Silvinichthys (Siluriformes, Trichomycter-
idae) lacking pelvic fins frommid-elevation localities of the
southern Andes, with comments on the genus. Journal of
Fish Biology 84:372–382.
Melo B. F., and R. P. Vari. 2014. New species of Cyphocharax
(Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the upper Rio Negro,
Amazon basin. Neotropical Ichthyology 12:327–332.
Jerep, F., R. P. Vari, and E. Vreven. 2014. Nannocharax dageti
(Teleostei: Characiformes), a new distichodontid from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. Ichthyo-
logical Exploration of Freshwaters 24:361–369.
Datovo, A., and R. P. Vari. 2014. The adductor mandibulae
muscle complex in lower teleostean fishes (Osteichthyes:
Actinopterygii): comparative anatomy, synonymy and
phylogenetic inferences. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society 171:554–622.
Jerep, F., and R. P. Vari. 2014. New species of Nannocharax
(Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from the northwestern
Congo basin, with an appraisal of Hemigrammocharax.
Copeia 2014:44–49.
Dutra, G. M., C. D. de Santana, W. B. Wosiacki, and R. P.
Vari. 2014. The South American electric fish genus
Distocyclus (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae): redefinition
and revision. Copeia 2014:345–354.
Vari, R. P., and B. B. Calegari. 2014. New species of the
catfish genus Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from
the rio Teles Pires, upper rio Tapajo´s basin, Brazil.
Neotropical Ichthyology 12:667–674.
Calegari, B. B., R. E. Reis, and R. P. Vari. 2014. Miniature
catfishes of the genus Gelanoglanis (Siluriformes: Auche-
nipteridae); monophyly and description of a new species
from the upper rio Tapajo´s basin, Brazil. Neotropical
Ichthyology 12:699–706.
Pelayo-Villamil, P., C. Guisande, R. P. Vari, A. Manjarre´s-
Herna´ndez, E. Garcı´a-Rosello´, J. Gonza´lez-Dacosta, J.
Heine, L. Gonza´lez Vilas, B. Patti, E. M. Quinci, L. F.
Jime´nez, C. Granado-Lorencio, P. A. Tedesco, and J. M.
Lobo. 2015. Global diversity patterns of freshwater
fishes—potential victims of their own success. Diversity
and Distributions 21:345–356.
Garcı´a-Rosello´, E., C. Guisande, A. Manjarre´s-Herna´ndez,
J. Gonza´lez-Dacosta, J. Heine, P. Pelayo-Villamil, R. P.
Vari, l. Gonza´lez-Vilas, A. Vaaomde, C. Granado-Lorencio,
and J. M. Lobo. 2015. Can we derive macroecological
patterns from primary GBIF data? Global Ecology and
Biogeography 24:335–347.
Carvalho, M., and R. P. Vari. 2015. Development of the
splanchnocranium in Prochilodus argenteus (Teleostei:
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Characiformes) with a discussion of the basal develop-
mental pattern in the Otophysi. Zoology 118:34–50.
Dutra, G. M., F. C. Jerep, R. P. Vari, and C. D. de Santana.
2015. The pseudotympanum in the Gymnotiformes (Tele-
ostei, Ostariophysi, Otophysi): homology and evolution of a
previously unexplored system in Neotropical electric fishes.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 174:114–129.
Dillman, C. B., B. L. Sidlauskas, and R. P. Vari. 2016. A
morphological supermatrix-based phylogeny for the Neo-
tropical fish superfamily Anostomoidea (Ostariophysi:
Characiformes): phylogeny, missing data and homoplasy.
Cladistics 32:276–296.
Vari, R. P., B. F. Melo, and C. Oliveira. 2016. Protocheirodon,
a new genus of the Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes)
with the redescription of the previously poorly known
Protocheirodon pi. Neotropical Ichthyology 14:315–322.
Davis, A. M., P. J. Unmack, R. Betancur-R., and R. P. Vari.
2016. Herbivory promotes lineage diversification and dental
disparification in grunters (Teleostei: Terapontidae), a fresh-
water adaptive radiation. American Naturalist 187:320–333.
Melo, B. F., L. E. Ochoa, R. P. Vari, and C. Oliveira. 2016.
Cryptic species in the Neotropical fish genus Curimatopsis
(Teleostei, Characiformes). Zoologica Scripta 45:650–658.
Guisande, C., R. P. Vari, J. Heine, E. Garcı´a-Rosello´, J.
Gonza´lez-Dacosta, B. J. Garcı´a Perez-Schofield, L. Gon-
za´lez-Vilas, and P. Pelayo-Villamil. 2016. VARSEDIG: an
algorithm for morphometric character selection and
statistical validation in morphological taxonomy. Zootaxa
4162:571–580.
Melo, B. F., R. P. Vari, and C. Oliveira. 2016. Curimatopsis
maculosa, a new species from the Rio Tapajo´s, Amazon
basin, Brazil (Teleostei: Curimatidae). Ichthyological Ex-
ploration of Freshwaters 27:303–308.
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NON-PEER REVIEWED ITEMS
Vari, R. P. 1980. Ichthyofauna of the Corantijn River System,
Western Suriname. Report to the Government of the
Republic of Suriname and the World Bank.
Vari, R. P. 1981. (Review of) The South American Herpeto-
fauna: Its Origin, Evolution and Dispersal. W. E. Duellman
(ed.). Systematic Zoology 29:412–414.
Vari, R. P. 1981. Environmental Impact of the Kabalebo
Hydroelectric Project on the Fishes and Fisheries of
Western Suriname. Report to the Government of Suriname
and the World Bank.
Ferraris, C., A. Machado, G. Nelson, R. Royero, R. Vari, and
S. H. Weitzman. 1988. Report on fishes collected at Cerro de
la Neblina, p. 597–660. In: Cerro de la Neblina, resultados de
la expedicion 1983–1987. C. Brewer Carrias (ed.). Caracas.
Parenti, L. R., and R. P. Vari. 1992. Careers in Ichthyology.
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Vari, R. P. 1994. (Review of) Faune des Poissons d’eaux
douces et saumaˆtres de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. C. Le´veˆque, D.
Paugy, and G. G. Teugels (eds.). Copeia 1994:254–255.
Weitzman, S. H., and R. P. Vari. 1994. Characins and their
allies, p. 101–105. In: Encyclopedia of Fishes. J. R. Paxton
and W. E. Eschmeyer (eds.). University of New South Wales
Press, Australia. Reprinted in North American, German,
French, Italian, Spanish, and Polish editions.
Vari, R. P. 1997. (Review of) Atlas des poissons d’eaux douce
de Guyane. P. Planquette, P. Keith, and P-Y. Le Bail. 1996.
Copeia 1997:239–240.
Weitzman, S. H., and R. P. Vari. 1998. Characins and their
allies, p. 101–105. In: Encyclopedia of Fishes. Revised
second edition. J. R. Paxton and W. N. Eschmeyer (eds.).
Academic Press, San Diego.
Vari, R. P. 2002. (Review of) Peixes do Rio das Velhas: Passado
e presente. Incluindo a traduc¸a˜o da monografia Velhas-
Flodens Fiske, 1875, de Chr. Fr. Lu¨tken. C. B. M. Alves and
P. S. Pompeu (eds.). Lundiana 3:157.
Sidlauskas, B., C. Bernard, D. Bloom, W. Bronaugh, M.
Clementson, and R. P. Vari. 2011. Ichthyologists hooked
on Facebook. Science 332:537.
Vari, R. P. 2013. (Review of) Historical biogeography of
Neotropical freshwater fishes. Edited by J. S. Albert and R.
E. Reis. University of California Press. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society 141:1151–1152.
Harrison, I., M. Evans, R. Lowe-McConnell, L. Parenti, C.
Sanford, L. Snyder, M. Stiassny, and R. [P.] Vari. 2013.
Obituary. Gordon John Howes 1938–2013 (Fish Systema-
tist). Journal of Fish Biology 83:1085–1093.
Vari, R. P. 2015. Nae´rcio A. Menezes. Robert H. Gibbs, Jr.
Memorial Award for Excellence in Systematic Ichthyology,
2014. Copeia 2015:1.
IN PRESS
Ferraris, C. J., Jr., C. D. de Santana, and R. P. Vari. Checklist
of Gymnotiformes (Osteichthyes: Ostariophysi) and cata-
logue of primary types. Neotropical Ichthyology.
Vari, R. P. Terapontidae. In: Fishes of the Western Indian
Ocean. P. Heemstra and E. Heemstra (eds.).
IN REVIEW
Dutra, G. M., C. D. de Santana, R. P. Vari, and W. B.
Wosiacki. Taxonomic revision of the glass knifefishes of
the genus Eigenmannia with a dark anal-fin margin
(Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae). Neotropical Ichthyology.
Gonza´lez-Vilas, L., C. Guisande, E. Garcı´a-Rosello´, R. P.
Vari, P. Pelayo-Villamil, J. Gonza´lez-Dacosta, J. Heine, E.
Pe´rez-Costas, C. Granado-Lorencio, A. Palau-Ibars, and
J. M. Lobo. Species-area relationship and habitat suitability
in freshwater fishes. Fisheries Management and Ecology.
Vari, R. P. Chilodontidae. In: Catalogue of the Species of the
Order Characiformes (Teleostei: Characiformes). Neotrop-
ical Ichthyology. N. A. Menezes and M. Toledo-Piza (eds.).
Vari, R. P. Ctenoluciiidae. In: Catalogue of the Species of the
Order Characiformes (Teleostei: Characiformes). Neotrop-
ical Ichthyology. N. A. Menezes and M. Toledo-Piza (eds.).
Vari, R. P., and C. Dillman. Curimatidae. In: Catalogue of
the Species of the Order Characiformes (Teleostei: Char-
aciformes). Neotropical Ichthyology. N. A. Menezes and M.
Toledo-Piza (eds.).
160 Copeia 105, No. 1, 2017