Haplochromis heusinkveldi
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
ACTINOPTERYGII |
PERCIFORMES |
CICHLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Haplochromis heusinkveldi |
| Species Authority: |
Witte & Witte-Maas, 1987 |
| Synonym/s: |
Haplochromis "heusinkveldi" Barel, 1983
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
C2a(ii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2010 |
| Assessor/s: |
Witte, F., de Zeeuw, M.P. & Brooks, E. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Darwall, W. & Smith, K. |
Justification:
The population density in the Northern part of the Mwanza Gulf suffered a significant decline of over 90% in the 1980s, due to the introduction of the Nile Perch (Lates niloticus). The Nile Perch density has declined since 1990s. Whilst many Haplochromis species suffered dramatic population crashes, many have shown signs of recovery in the last few years, however this species has not been seen since 1985 despite repeated surveys within its known range. If it is still present it is likely to be extremely rare with very few individuals, but it may now be Extinct.
|
| History: |
| 2006 |
– |
Critically Endangered
(IUCN 2006)
|
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
This species has declined in numbers dramatically since 1980. The results from a small trawl transect in the Mwanza Gulf (based on 60 catches from Feb-Jan) show the mean number caught per 10 minutes dropped from 27 in 1979/80 to 0 for 1987/88, 1993/95 and 2006/08. A large trawl transect carried out in northern Mwanza Gulf (based on 7 catches in 1978, and 69 in 1987) showed a drop from a mean of 218,000 caught per hour in 1978 to 0.1 in 1987. Between 1999 - 2008, no specimens were collected by the large trawl.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
This is a pelagic species from the littoral and sub-littoral zone. The species has mainly been found over mud substrate. It is classified as a zooplanktivore.
|
| Systems: |
Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
The main threat to this species is predation by Nile Perch (a potentially reversible threat). It is also potentially threatened by hybridization due to decreased water transparency (on account of eutrophication and erosion leading to increased sedimentation and runoff) interfering with mate recognition visual cues (Mrosso et al. 2003).
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
This species has not been reported since 1985. More studies are needed to establish if it is still extant.
|
