Mastacembelus vanderwaali
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
ACTINOPTERYGII |
SYNBRANCHIFORMES |
MASTACEMBELIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Mastacembelus vanderwaali |
| Species Authority: |
Skelton (1976) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Ocellated Spiny Eel |
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Least Concern
ver 3.1
|
| Year Assessed: |
2007 |
| Assessor/s: |
Tweddle, D. & Marshall, B.E. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Unit) |
Justification:
The species is common in Upper Zambezi rapids, with no immediate threats to this habitat.
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
Okavango and Upper Zambezi system (Skelton 2001), with some records from the Middle Zambezi.
|
| Countries: |
Native:
Botswana; Zambia; Zimbabwe
|
| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
|
Population
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| Population: |
Common.
|
| Population Trend: |
Stable
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
Restricted to crevices in rocky rapids. Feeds on insects taken from rocks (Skelton, 2001).
|
| Systems: |
Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
None known. The species is well-protected because of its habitat.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
The Zambezi National park above Victoria Falls gives some protection.
|
