In the Rio Ubatiba, P. maculicauda was able to disperse successfully throughout much of
the watercourse [39]. The dispersal capacity of this species and its ability to withstand the variation
in physical, chemical, and ecological characters would have underpinned its ability to colonise
the stream. Its dispersal routes may also have been influenced by the morphology of the
species and anthropogenic changes in the environment. Understanding these dispersal routes
is important for the definition of the factors that limit the distribution of a species and other
aspects of its ecology, and provides important insights for the development of management
and conservation programs [7].