Threatened fishes of the world: Zacco chengtui Kimura 1934 (Cyprinidae)

Abstract

Common name: Chengdu chub. Conservation status: Vulnerable, China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals (Yue and Chen 1998) and China Species Red List (Wang and Xie 2004). Identification: Body length 45–120 mm (Ding 1994; Chen 1998). Body laterally compressed, mouth terminal, posterior tip of maxilla at the anterior eye margin, eyes small, barbels absent. Lateral line complete but not straight. Pelvicfin insertion at origin of dorsal-fin; anal-fin very long, especially in matured males, reaching or surpassing caudal-fin base (Kimura 1934). Scales small, usually 60–67 on lateral line and 11–13 above lateral line (Ding 1994; Chen 1998), the main difference between Chengdu chub and other Zacco species. Colorful in live, with nine or ten lateral bars in males, no obvious bars in females. Nuptial organs present on snout, below eyes, and on anal-fin in matured males (Ding 1994; Chen 1998). Distribution: Endemic, narrowly distributed in the Jianjiang River (a tributary of the Tuojiang River in the upper Yangtze River) in Chengdu City and Pengxian County, Sichuan Province (Ding 1994; Chen 1998). Abundance: Natural populations are small (Yue and Chen 1998). Habitat and ecology: Inhabits small rivers and the tributaries with slow-moving clear water. Reproduction: Details unknown. No reports of captive breeding. Threats: Restricted distribution, streams polluted by industrial wastes. The fishes are inadvertently killed while other fish species are targeted by illegal electrical fishing and poisoning.Conservation action: No protectivemeasures, but listed as vulnerable and protected in Sichuan Province. Conservation recommendations: Habitat protection, pollution control, and fishing restriction. Determine size and genetic diversity of wild populations, initiate artificial propagation for stocking fish into the wild. Remarks: Studies of feeding habits, reproduction and development are necessary to sustain the species. Environ Biol Fish (2009) 84:27–28 DOI 10.1007/s10641-008-9382-2