Lithochromis xanthopteryx
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
ACTINOPTERYGII |
PERCIFORMES |
CICHLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Lithochromis xanthopteryx |
| Species Authority: |
Seehausen & Bouton, 1998 |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Black Pseudo-nigricans |
|
| Synonym/s: |
Haplochromis "black pseudonigricans" Witte et al., 1992
Haplochromis "black & yellow pseudonigricans" Seehausen, 1996
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Vulnerable
D2
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2010 |
| Assessor/s: |
Witte, F., de Zeeuw, M.P. & Brooks, E. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Darwall, W. & Smith, K. |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
In the past, the species was abundant. The species has declined since the 1970s, however, the species is still thought to be common where it is found. It is however restricted to the steeply sloping eastern side of the northern Mwanza Gulf in southern Lake Victoria, and is increasingly threatened by increased hybridisation due to decreased water transparency. It is therefore assessed as Vulnerable.
|
| History: |
| 2006 |
– |
Critically Endangered
(IUCN 2006)
|
| 2006 |
– |
Critically Endangered
|
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
This species is endemic to the steeply sloping eastern side of the northern Mwanza Gulf in southern Lake Victoria. It is abundant there at all rocky outcrops between the Gabalema Islands in the north and Butimba Point in the south. It is less abundant at the Nyegezi Rocks at the southern distribution limit of the species (Seehausen et al. 1998). |
| Countries: |
Native: Tanzania, United Republic of |
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
The frequency of occurrence of this species was recorded as 10-50% within the Mwanza Gulf in 1978/79, increasing to more than 50% within Mwanze Gulf and Speke Gulf in 1990 (Witte et al. 1992). It was however reported at 9/22 catch localities in the Mwanze and Speke Gulf between 2004-2006 (Mizoiri et al. 2008), and is thought to be locally abundant.
|
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
The species is restricted to rocky substrates in the littoral zone. The species is restricted to places with large, very steeply sloping boulders, where it inhabits the immediately inshore slope between 0.5 and at least 5 m water depth, and lives in crevices between the boulders, including rock pools within emerged rocky reefs. It is an insectivore/zooplanktivore, and its diet consists of benthic invertebrates, periphyton and fish.
|
| Systems: |
Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
The main threat to this species is 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). An additional threat is capture as bait for long line fishery.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
None known, but the population trend of this species should continue to be monitored. Habitat restoration is required to protect the species from further degradation.
|
