Research interest

My research centers on the evolutionary history, taxonomy, anatomy, ecology, and biogeography of European and Neotropical freshwater fishes. As a taxonomist, phylogeneticist, and evolutionary biologist, I am dedicated to discovering and describing fish diversity and understanding the biological patterns and ecological and evolutionary processes that in combination have shaped this diversity over temporal scale. My research program spans the continuum from basic taxonomy to applied evolutionary questions through integrative approach using morphological, ecological and molecular evidence to clarify species identities and improve our knowledge of fish biodiversity — fundamental for conservation strategies. I am currently focused in understand European species complexes such as Barbatula barbatula, Phoxinus phoxinus, Cottus gobio, and Gobio gobio. In parallel, I investigate macroevolutionary patterns in Neotropical freshwater fishes using the driftwood catfishes (Auchenipteridae) as a model. I am particularly interested in how morphology and ecology influence evolutionary trajectories, using phylogenetic frameworks to explore questions related to radiation, diversity, and biogeographic history. I am passionate about natural history collections, fieldwork, photographing fishes, creating geographic distribution maps, and teaching molecular systematics and comparative anatomy. My work seeks to bridge taxonomy and conservation, combining an integrative approach with a deep appreciation for the complexity of freshwater ecosystems.

For more information on my research and publications, please, visit my personal homepage.

Selected peer-reviewed publications

  • CALEGARI, B. B., FREYHOF, J., WALDOCK, C., WEIGSCHEIDER, B., JOSI, D., RÜBER, L., SEEHAUSEN, O. 2025. Two new species of stone loaches of the genus Barbatula (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from Europe with a neotype designation of B. barbatula (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Journal of Fish Biology, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70108

  • LUCENA, C. A. S., KULLANDER, S., NORÉN, M., CALEGARI, B. B. 2022. Conjectures and refutations: species diversity and phylogeny of Australoheros from coastal rivers of southern South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae).  PLOS ONE 17(12):e0261027. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261027

  • MEZA-VARGAS, V., CALEGARI, B. B., LUJAN, N. K., BALLEN, G. A., OYAKAWA, O. T., SOUSA, L. M., PY-DANIEL, L. R., REIS, R E. 2022. A New Species of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) Expands the Distribution of Rubbernose Plecos Eastward into the Lower Amazon Basin of Brazil, Ichthyology & Herpetology 110(2), 364-377.  https://doi.org/10.1643/i2021068

  • FREITAS, T. M. S., STROPP J., CALEGARI, B. B., CALATAYUD, J., DE MARCO, P. Jr., MONTAG, L. F. A., HORTAL, J. 2020. Quantifying shortfalls in the knowledge on Neotropical Auchenipteridae fishes. Fish and Fisheries, 2020:1-18.

  • CALEGARI, B. B., VARI, R. P., REIS, R. E. 2019. Phylogenetic Systematics of the Driftwood Catfishes (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): A Combined Morphological and Molecular Analysis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 187(3):661-773.
  • CALEGARI, B. B., AKAMA, A., REIS, R. E. 2018. First record of the driftwood catfish Spinipterus acsi Akama & Ferraris, 2011 (Siluriformes, Auchenipteridae) for Brazil, Juruá River, Amazon basin. Check List, 14(4): 693-697.
  • CALEGARI, B. B., FONTENELLE, J. P. 2018. Geographical Distribution Maps Tutorial - Part II, Hypsometric Maps. Boletim, Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia, v. 124.
  • CALEGARI, B. B., REIS, R. E., VARI, R. P. 2014. Miniature catfishes of the genus Gelanoglanis (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): monophyly and the description of a new species from the upper rio Tapajós basin, Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, v.12(4), p.699-706.

For more publications, please, visit my personal homepage.