Threatened fishes of the world: Austrolebias univentripinnis Costa and Cheffe 2005 (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

Abstract

Common names: Annual fish, killifish. Conservation status: None. Identification: Urogenital papilla completely attached to anal fin in males, pelvic fins 75 to 90% fused. Largest male registered 35.6 mm SL and largest female 32.2 mm SL (Illustration by Felipe Ribas). Coloration: Lateral body of males with 11–18 vertical rows of brilliant blue-green pigmentation on a dark greenish gray background. Lateral body of females with elongated bars on a faint yellow-brown background (Costa and Cheffe 2005). Distribution: Endemic to Jaguarao River basin, Patos-Mirim Lagoon system, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Abundance: Population estimates not available. Habitat and ecology: Inhabit shallow temporary pools that are formed generally between June to September, in the winter months, during the rainy season. Pools generally are small in surface area (<1,000 m) with maximum depth of 50 cm and high density of aquatic macrophytes. The pH was 6.6–6.8 and the water was whitish. Reproduction: Unknown; likely similar to congenera, which mature within two months after hatching and reproduce throughout his life (Errea and Danulat 2001). Threats: Greatest threat is caused by drainage and changes in physical structure and the hydrological cycle of wetlands due to rice cultivation in floodplains of the Jaguarao River and its small tributaries. The loss of habitat caused by urban progress in the city of Jaguarao and the cattle presence in all sampling sites of the species are also threats to populations of A. univentripinnis (Lanes and Cheffe 2006). Conservation action: None taken. Conservation recommendations: Establish some form of legal protection, as small conservation units, in areas of occurrence of the species; realization of studies regarding the biology and ecology; inhibit the illegal draining and use of wetlands for rice cultivation and urban construction; include it in lists of species of fauna threatened with extinction and recovery and monitoring of its habitat. Environ Biol Fish (2010) 87:319–320 DOI 10.1007/s10641-010-9605-1