Alcolapia alcalicus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Alcolapia alcalicus
Species Authority:	(Hilgendorf, 1905)
Taxonomic Notes:	Previously also reported as Tilapia alcalica and Oreochromis (Alcolapia) alcalicus alcalicus. Specific rank according to Seegers and Tichy (1999).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii) ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s:	Bayona, J.D.R.
Reviewer/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: Although the known extent of occurrence is less than 100 km² and area of occupancy less than 10 km² (suggesting a CR status), the species is restricted to three locations (more than the CR threshold, but within the EN threshold). There is continuing decline in range area and habitat quality.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Lake Natron drainage and Shombole swamps (Seegers andTichy 1999). Also in Lake Magardi.
Countries:	Native: Kenya; Tanzania, United Republic of
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Not certain but thought to be declining.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Found in springs and spring-fed streams, rarely observed in the open water of some lagoons of the lake (Seegers and Tichy 1999). Inhabits waters rich in sodium and chlorides and temperature ranges between 16–40°C (Reite et al. 1974). Omnivorous. They take algae from stones as well as live food. The basic natural diet is blue-green algae. Sometimes insects are gulped from the water surface. Bacteria are also taken from the water surface (Seegers and Tichy 1999). The juveniles are carnivores feeding on invertebrates, eggs and larvae. There seems to be no distinct breeding period, although there may be a breeding maximum in December/January, which coincides with the hottest period of the year. Male builds nests (pits), which are not aggregated nor grouped in large numbers (Seegers and Tichy 1999). Max. size: 115.7 mm TL (Seegers and Tichy 1999).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Found in springs and spring-fed streams, rarely observed in the open water of some lagoons of the lake (Seegers and Tichy 1999). Inhabits waters rich in sodium and chlorides and temperature ranges between 16–40°C (Reite et al. 1974). Omnivorous. They take algae from stones as well as live food. The basic natural diet is blue-green algae. Sometimes insects are gulped from the water surface. Bacteria are also taken from the water surface (Seegers and Tichy 1999). The juveniles are carnivores feeding on invertebrates, eggs and larvae. There seems to be no distinct breeding period, although there may be a breeding maximum in December/January, which coincides with the hottest period of the year. Male builds nests (pits), which are not aggregated nor grouped in large numbers (Seegers and Tichy 1999). Max. size: 115.7 mm TL (Seegers and Tichy 1999).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Sedimentation. Reduction in lake level.

Major Threat(s):

Sedimentation. Reduction in lake level.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	None in place.

Conservation Actions:

None in place.

Bibliography [top]

	Beadle, L.C. 1981. The Inland Waters of Tropical Africa. Longman Group Ltd, Bumtmill, Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom. Bwathondi, P.O.J., Ngatunga, B.P. and Mwambungu, J.A. 2000. Biodiversity of the aquatic fauna of Tarangire river and Lake Manyara catchment basin, Tanzania. Unpublished consultancy report to WWF. Eccles, D.H. 1992. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006. Reite, O.B., Maloiy, G.M.O. and Aasehaug, B. 1974. Ph, salinity and temperature tolerance of Lake Magadi Tilapia. Nature 247: 315 Seegers, L. and Tichy, H. 1999. The Oreochromis alcalicus flock (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Natron and Magadi, Tanzania and Kenya, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 10(2): 97–146

Beadle, L.C. 1981. The Inland Waters of Tropical Africa. Longman Group Ltd, Bumtmill, Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom.

Bwathondi, P.O.J., Ngatunga, B.P. and Mwambungu, J.A. 2000. Biodiversity of the aquatic fauna of Tarangire river and Lake Manyara catchment basin, Tanzania. Unpublished consultancy report to WWF.

Eccles, D.H. 1992. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006.

Reite, O.B., Maloiy, G.M.O. and Aasehaug, B. 1974. Ph, salinity and temperature tolerance of Lake Magadi Tilapia. Nature 247: 315

Seegers, L. and Tichy, H. 1999. The Oreochromis alcalicus flock (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Natron and Magadi, Tanzania and Kenya, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 10(2): 97–146

Citation:	Bayona, J.D.R. 2006. Alcolapia alcalicus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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