Labeo fisheri

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	CYPRINIFORMES	CYPRINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Labeo fisheri

Species Authority:

Jordan & Starks, 1917

Common Name/s:

English

–

Green Labeo, Mountain Labeo

Synonym/s:

Labeo gadeya Deraniyagala, 1929

Morulius gadeya (Deraniyagala, 1929)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

Devi, R. & Boguskaya, N.

Reviewer/s:

Collen, B., Darwall, W., Ram, M. & Smith, K. (SRLI Freshwater Fish Evaluation Workshop)

Justification:
L. fisheri has been assessed as Endangered due to its restricted range (Extent of Occurrence less than 5,000km²), continuing decline in habitat quality, and the fact the species is considered to be found in less than five locations.

There are reports that L. fisheri has suffered from declines (unknown levels) and may be extinct, however further research is required to confirm this.

History:

1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Endangered (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found only in the mid to upper reaches of the Mahaveli River basin, Sri Lanka, with an estimated Extent of Occurrence of 4,385 km².
Countries:	Native: Sri Lanka
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It has been reported that L. fisheri may already be extinct, as a result of habitat loss following the Mahaveli River Development Project (Wikramanayake 1990), see Major Threats.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	L. fisheri is a benthopelagic species that only inhabits deep, fast-flowing sections of the river. It has not been recorded from unshaded, silty or turbid waters. It moves fast through the water, staying close to the bottom. Juveniles have been observed picking algae off submerged rocks. It occurs sympatrically with (and possibly mistaken for) Puntius sp. 'martenstyn' throughout its known range.
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

L. fisheri is a benthopelagic species that only inhabits deep, fast-flowing sections of the river. It has not been recorded from unshaded, silty or turbid waters. It moves fast through the water, staying close to the bottom. Juveniles have been observed picking algae off submerged rocks. It occurs sympatrically with (and possibly mistaken for) Puntius sp. 'martenstyn' throughout its known range.

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are a number of threats to the habitat of L. fisheri. The Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme, initiated in 1979, included developing the Mahaweli River to provide irrigation facilities for dry zone agriculture and generate hydro-electric power, by constructing four new dams (Asian Development Bank 2006). In addition, the rainforests of Sri Lanka are rapidly being depleted by agriculture, mining, logging and urbanization. Between 1956 and 1980, total forest cover had been reduced from 44 to 25 percent. One result of this deforestation is stream degradation due to increased erosion, siltation, extreme flow fluctuations and decreased shade cover (Wikramanayake 1990).

Major Threat(s):

There are a number of threats to the habitat of L. fisheri. The Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme, initiated in 1979, included developing the Mahaweli River to provide irrigation facilities for dry zone agriculture and generate hydro-electric power, by constructing four new dams (Asian Development Bank 2006). In addition, the rainforests of Sri Lanka are rapidly being depleted by agriculture, mining, logging and urbanization. Between 1956 and 1980, total forest cover had been reduced from 44 to 25 percent. One result of this deforestation is stream degradation due to increased erosion, siltation, extreme flow fluctuations and decreased shade cover (Wikramanayake 1990).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Surveys to confirm the suspected extinction of L. fisheri (Wikramanayake, 1990) are recommended.

Conservation Actions:

Surveys to confirm the suspected extinction of L. fisheri (Wikramanayake, 1990) are recommended.

Citation:	Devi, R. & Boguskaya, N. 2009. Labeo fisheri. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided