Haplochromis katunzii

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:	Haplochromis katunzii
Species Authority:	ter Huurne & Witte, 2010
Synonym/s:	Haplochromis sp. nov. '75' van Oijen et al., 1981
Taxonomic Notes:	There is a general agreement that the undescribed form (Haplochromis sp. nov. '75') is a clearly circumscribed species. The formal description of this species was published in 2010 (ter Huurne and Witte in de Zeeuw et al. 2010).

Assessment Information [top]

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.
Contributor/s:
Justification: The population density of this species was known in the past. The current population density is not known, but the species has declined since the 1970s due to the introduction of the Nile Perch (Lates niloticus). However the biggest current threat to the species is increased hybridisation as a result of decreased water transparency which interrupts with normal mate recognition. There are some unclear specimens that may represent possible hybrids of this species, however a true identification of this species has not been made since the early 1980s. If it is still present it is likely to be extremely rare with very few individuals, and it is now Possibly Extinct. Should positive identifications be made this assessment should be revised.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Lake Victoria. It has been recorded in surveys carried out in Tanzania.
Countries:	Possibly extinct: Tanzania, United Republic of
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population results from a small trawl transect in the Mwanza Gulf (based on 60 catches from Feb-Jan) show the mean number of this species caught per 10 minutes dropped from 91 in 1979/80 to 0 for 1987/88. For trawls carried out in 1993/95 and 2006/08 the exact figures are unknown as there were many unclear specimens that seem to represent hybrids among two or more detritivorous species (also including Haplochromis cinctus, Haplochromis antleter and Haplochromis coprologus). Only very rarely specimens were observed that could be identified unequivocally as one of these four species, thus the current numbers of each of these species seems very low, and in some cases have not been positively identified for some years. Taken as a group (including hybrids), the total mean dropped from 1,004 per 10 min small trawl in 1979/80 to 1 for 1987/88, and then increased to 25 in 1993/95 and ca. 300 in 2006/08.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Population results from a small trawl transect in the Mwanza Gulf (based on 60 catches from Feb-Jan) show the mean number of this species caught per 10 minutes dropped from 91 in 1979/80 to 0 for 1987/88. For trawls carried out in 1993/95 and 2006/08 the exact figures are unknown as there were many unclear specimens that seem to represent hybrids among two or more detritivorous species (also including Haplochromis cinctus, Haplochromis antleter and Haplochromis coprologus). Only very rarely specimens were observed that could be identified unequivocally as one of these four species, thus the current numbers of each of these species seems very low, and in some cases have not been positively identified for some years. Taken as a group (including hybrids), the total mean dropped from 1,004 per 10 min small trawl in 1979/80 to 1 for 1987/88, and then increased to 25 in 1993/95 and ca. 300 in 2006/08.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species has been found over mud substrate in the littoral and sub-littoral zone. The species is a detritivore.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

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). This species is fished, although not targeted specifically.

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). This species is fished, although not targeted specifically.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Many fish species within Lake Victoria have suffered severe and dramatic declines since the introduction of the Nile Perch. Although numbers of the perch have now decreased, the degradation of the water quality is also thought to be having a significant impact on some fish species. More research is needed to monitor this species and how it is affected by these threats, as well as establishing the extent of its range within the lake. Policy based action is needed to decrease the degradation of the lake, as well as to prevent over fishing. Protected areas should also be established.

Conservation Actions:

Many fish species within Lake Victoria have suffered severe and dramatic declines since the introduction of the Nile Perch. Although numbers of the perch have now decreased, the degradation of the water quality is also thought to be having a significant impact on some fish species. More research is needed to monitor this species and how it is affected by these threats, as well as establishing the extent of its range within the lake. Policy based action is needed to decrease the degradation of the lake, as well as to prevent over fishing. Protected areas should also be established.

Bibliography [top]

	de Zeeuw, M.P., Mietes, M., Niemantsverdriet, P., ter Huurne, S. and Witte, F. 2010. Seven new species of detritivorous and phytoplanktivorous haplochromines from Lake Victoria. Zoologische Medelingen Leiden 84: 201-250. IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010). van Oijen, M.J.P., Witte, F. and Witte-Maas, E.L.M. 1981. An introduction to ecological and taxonomic investigations on the haplochromine cichlids from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Netherlands Journal of Zoology 31: 149-174. Witte, F., Goldschmidt, T., Wanink, J., van Oijen, M., Goudswaard, K., Witte-Maas, E. and Bouton, N. 1992. The destruction of endermic species flock: quantitative data on the decline of the haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria. Environmental Biology of Fishes 34: 1-28.

de Zeeuw, M.P., Mietes, M., Niemantsverdriet, P., ter Huurne, S. and Witte, F. 2010. Seven new species of detritivorous and phytoplanktivorous haplochromines from Lake Victoria. Zoologische Medelingen Leiden 84: 201-250.

IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).

van Oijen, M.J.P., Witte, F. and Witte-Maas, E.L.M. 1981. An introduction to ecological and taxonomic investigations on the haplochromine cichlids from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Netherlands Journal of Zoology 31: 149-174.

Witte, F., Goldschmidt, T., Wanink, J., van Oijen, M., Goudswaard, K., Witte-Maas, E. and Bouton, N. 1992. The destruction of endermic species flock: quantitative data on the decline of the haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria. Environmental Biology of Fishes 34: 1-28.

Citation:	Witte, F., de Zeeuw, M.P. & Brooks, E. 2010. Haplochromis katunzii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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