Etroplus canarensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Etroplus canarensis

Species Authority:

Day, 1877

Common Name/s:

English

–

Canara Pearlspot

Taxonomic Notes:

Etroplus canarensis was described by Day (1865) from South Canara (currently Karnataka, India).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2011

Assessor/s:

Ali, A.

Reviewer/s:

Rema Devi, K.R., Dahanukar, N., Raghavan, R. & Molur, S.

Contributor/s:

Molur, S., Rema Devi, K.R. & Bogutskaya, N.

Justification:
Etroplus canarensis has been assessed as Endangered because of its restricted distribution to two locations, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of less than 5,000 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 500 km². There is also an going decline in habitat quality as a result of pollution and sand mining, and the threat of over-collection for the pet trade.

History:

2007

–

Endangered (IUCN 2009.2)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Etroplus canarensis is endemic to the Western Ghats (Dahanukar et al. 2004) and known from the Kumaradhara and Nethravati Rivers in Karnataka (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: India (Karnataka)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no information on the population status of E. canarensis, but aquarium hobbyists who have been monitoring its habitats suggest that the populations are relatively stable (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Unlike other members of the genus E. canarensis is a strict freshwater species (Anon 2007-2010).
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	One of the major threats to E. canarensis is the unmanaged collection for the aquarium hobby. Since the populations are restricted to two locations, indiscriminate collections can possibly wipe out the species. However, with the increase in availability of captive bred fish from Indonesia, pressure on wild collection seems to have declined. Additional threats include both intentional and unintentional harvest as a food fish, pollution from agricultural and domestic sewage, and habitat alteration due to sand mining. In 1996 many fish in the Kumaradhara River died from pesticide poisoning (Gadgil et al. 2001). The habitat in the Kumaradhara is in reasonably good shape, with very little human impact (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.).

Major Threat(s):

One of the major threats to E. canarensis is the unmanaged collection for the aquarium hobby. Since the populations are restricted to two locations, indiscriminate collections can possibly wipe out the species. However, with the increase in availability of captive bred fish from Indonesia, pressure on wild collection seems to have declined. Additional threats include both intentional and unintentional harvest as a food fish, pollution from agricultural and domestic sewage, and habitat alteration due to sand mining. In 1996 many fish in the Kumaradhara River died from pesticide poisoning (Gadgil et al. 2001). The habitat in the Kumaradhara is in reasonably good shape, with very little human impact (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The Kumaradhara in Bisle Ghat should be preserved as an important habitat for the species (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.). Measures such as no-take zones and freshwater sanctuaries, as well as captive breeding for stock enhancement are also recommended.

Conservation Actions:

The Kumaradhara in Bisle Ghat should be preserved as an important habitat for the species (Rahul Kumar pers. comm.). Measures such as no-take zones and freshwater sanctuaries, as well as captive breeding for stock enhancement are also recommended.

Citation:	Ali, A. 2011. Etroplus canarensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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