Threatened fishes of the world: Puntius tumba Herre, 1924 (Cyprinidae)

Abstract

Common name: Lindog. Local name: Lindog (Maranao). Conservation status: Vulnerable A2cde— IUCN Red List (1996). Identification: D IV 8; A 5; P1 14; P2 I 7–10. Elongate body, mouth terminal, two small barbels hidden under maxillary. Lateral scales 24–26. Blackish bronze above, silvery dusky, and gray to whitish below. Dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins dusky or blackish, other fins colorless (Fowler 1941). Scales cycloid, 4th spinous dorsal soft-ray is the longest. Maximum size 145 mm SL, 37 g. Illustration borrowed from Escudero et al. (1980). Distribution: Endemic to Lake Lanao, Philippines (Herre 1924) 7° 50′ 0′′, 124° 20′ 0′′. Abundance: Previously comprised 50–65% of the total fish catch (Escudero et al. 1980), about 17% by 1982–83, 12% in 1990–91 (Escudero 1994; Escudero and Demoral 1983), 2008, only 13 specimens in the market. Habitat and ecology: In the deeper southern portion of the lake (down to 112 m) (Escudero et al. 1980). Feeds on zooplankton, phytoplankton, and occasionally scavenges on human food waste along lake shore. Reproduction: Breeds year round (Escudero et al. 1980), peak October to March. Spawns 500–5500 spherical eggs 0.9– 1.1 mm on aquatic vegetation, no parental care (Escudero et al. 1980). Threats: Introduction of nonnative species (Kornfield and Carpenter 1984) such as Hypseleotris agilis, overfishing, targeted by fishermen for its high market price. Hydroelectric dams on the Agus River, the only outlet of the lake have affected the habitat by altering natural flow of water and may have contributed to the extinction of the endemicMandibularca resinus. Conservation actions: Attempts at induced spawning in the laboratory unsuccessful. Conservation recommendation: Research on biology, with attempts at artificial propagation by captive breeding. Legal protection for Lake Lanao and implement Sec. 11 of the Philippine Fisheries Code for closed seasons, conservaEnviron Biol Fish (2011) 91:117–118 DOI 10.1007/s10641-010-9758-y