The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Tylochromis polylepis

 – Least Concern

Taxonomy

Kingdom: ANIMALIA
Phylum: CHORDATA
Class: ACTINOPTERYGII
Order: PERCIFORMES
Family: CICHLIDAE
Scientific Name: Tylochromis polylepis
Species Authority: Boulenger, 1900

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria: LC    ver 3.1 (2001)
Year Assessed: 2006
Assessor/s: Ntakimazi, G.
Evaluator/s: Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika and lower reaches of major affluent rivers where it is widespread and has no known major widespread threats.

Geographic Range

Range Description: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika and also the lower reaches of major inflowing rivers, including The Malagarasi and Rusizi.
Range Map:
(click for detailed map)
Countries: Native:

Burundi; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia

Population

Population: Common in fisheries catches, although not abundant.
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology: Found in very shallow inshore waters (0–1 m deep) on soft bottoms along the lakeshore and in river deltas and lagoons. Feeds mostly on plant debris.
System: Freshwater
List of Habitats:
5.1Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)
5.5Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)
5.7Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)
5.13Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Inland Deltas

Threats

Threats: Beach seining. Siltation and water turbidity in the inshore zone.
List of Threats:
3.1.1Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Food - Subsistence use/local trade (ongoing)
6.3.7Pollution (affecting habitat and/or species) - Water pollution - Sediment (ongoing)

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions: No information available.
List of Conservation Actions:
3.9Research actions - Trends/Monitoring (needed)

Bibliography

Bibliography:

De Vos, L., Taverne, L. and Thys van den Audenaerde, D.F.E. 2001. L’Ichtyofaune du bassin de la Malagarasi (système du lac Tanganyika): une synthèse de la connaissance actuelle. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sc. Zool. 285: 117–152

Poll, M. 1953. Poissons non Cichlidae. In: Exploration Hydrobiologique du Lac Tanganika (1946–1947). Résultats scientifiques. 3(5A): 1–251. Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium.


Citation: Ntakimazi, G. 2006. Tylochromis polylepis. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 August 2008.
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