Between 1981 and 1995, we published five bibliographic lists (López et al., 1981, 1982,1987, 1989 y 1995) that included the publications referred to Argentine freshwater fishes and related general information published since Ringuelet et al. (1967). We included Uruguayan papers until 1989, when it became apparent that our access to those materials was not complete. Other bibliographic collections were published on several subjects (López et al., 1991, 1993, y Ferriz et al., 1998). In the foreword to the 1995 list, López stated that it was difficult to assess the actual usefulness of the lists, since they were seldom quoted in research papers. This consideration, along with the wide success of electronic databases, caused us to discontinue the series, since its only goal had been to increase the knowledge and access to local research papers and foreign publications of interest to local researchers. Regrettably, our experience indicates that access to scientific literature is still, if not difficult, somewhat arbitrary. Apart from that, the continuous work on diverse research lines at División Zoología Vertebrados of Museo de La Plata leads to the accumulation of a multiplicity of information which may be sorted out for the use of others without much difficulty. At present, electronically-supported databases appear as the simplest way to do this. The future will show if this method is more efficient than the preceding one. In this issue we have included papers published between 1996 and 2002; and it is our purpose to update the list on a yearly basis. Papers included cover Argentine fish fauna and some related subjects of more general interest. Naturally, it is hardly surprising that some involuntary omissions will occur when addressing this subject. Any corrections and/or additions will be incorporated in following versions; and all information is most welcome.

División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata

ProBiota, Programa para el estudio y uso sustentable de la biota austral

ProBiota