SANBI

Rationale

In South Africa the excessive use of water resources in the Maputaland region threatens the persistance of the local Manyspined Climbing Perch (Ctenopoma multispine) population. Within the iSimangaliso National Park some protection from land use is afforded to the subpopulations but upstream impacts, invasive alien species and the past effect of drought remain. The range of the population within South Africa is believed to have been reduced to stable lakes including the Mkuze Pan, Lake Sibiya and other regional lakes. This species is experiencing continuous decline in habitat quality, number of mature individuals, number of locations and subpopulations, extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). The species has an EOO of 1,123 km² and AOO of 44 km² and is known from five locations (Tembe Elephant Reserve, Mbazwana, Tengani, Vasi, Lake Sibayi). It is thus assessed as Endangered B1b(i,ii,iii,iv,v) + 2b(i,ii,iii,iv,v), however since this is a regional assessment at the national level and because the population is not isolated from neighbouring populations making migration possible, based on IUCN guidelines (IUCN, 2012) the global population must be considered and an assessment adjustment has been implemented. Accordingly the category is downlisted and the species is assessed as Vulnerable B1b(i,ii,iii,iv,v) + 2b(i,ii,iii,iv,v).

Distribution

This species is restricted to the lower reaches of the rivers, floodplains, lakes and pans of northern KwaZulu-Natal within Maputaland, South Africa. Within Maputaland the population of Many Spined Climbing Perch historically occurred within numerous coastal lakes and pans in the iSimangaliso National Park and Lake Sibaya (Skelton 2001, Scott et al. 2006), however its distribution has recently been reduced.

It is also known from Central Africa in the southern tributaries of the Congo River basin (Skelton 2001) as well as Eastern Africa in the Lower Shire River, Malawi. And in the rest of Southern Africa it can be found in the upper Zambezi River System in all the northern tributary systems (Tweddle et al. 2004).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The population of Many Spined Climbing Perch within South Africa are fragmented and abundances evaluated in 2016 (Evans et al. in preparation) are considerably lower than reported in 2007 (Darwall et al. 2009). The genetic diversity of the populations within South Africa, southern Africa and the rest of Africa is poorly understood. As such the ecological importance of protecting the fringe populations within South Africa has not been established. In the lower reaches of the Mhlathuze River an isolated subpopulation has been lost due to impacts of threats.

Threats

Threats to the well being of the species in South Africa include habitat loss and change due to drought and physical alterations by agriculture and infrastructure. Abstraction of water for agricultural activities, urban developments and pollution from small industries. Water quality changes including nutrient enrichment, toxin increases and impacts associated with runoff and waste releases associated with local agricultural activities (Vrdoljak & Hart 2007). From 2010 in particular there has been a considerable increase in land based agriculture practices within the distribution range of the species which has affected the water quality, quantity and habitat of surface aquatic ecosystems. This species is also impacted by predation and competition from invasive alien fauna and flora (Evans et al. in preparation).

Uses and trade

This species is harvested for human consumption and has commercial importance as an aquarium fish.

Conservation

None known. More information on possible threats to this species is needed, and monitoring of population trends.

References

[@article{18475,
 author = {Skelton, P.H.},
 title = {A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{182803,
 author = {Tweddle, D., Skelton, P.H., van der Waal, B.C.W., Bills, I.R., Chilala, A. and Lekoko, O.T.},
 title = {Aquatic biodiversity survey for the “Four Corners” Transboundary Natural Resources Management Area. Final Report – July 2004},
 year = {2004}
}
,@book{63262,
 address = {Grahamstown},
 author = {Scott, L.E.P., Skelton, P.H., Booth, A.J., Verheust, L., Harris, R. & Dooley, J},
 publisher = {Monograph 2, Smithiana, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity},
 title = {‘Atlas of southern African freshwater fishes’},
 year = {2006}
}
,@book{63387,
 address = {Gland, Switzerland and Grahamstown, South Africa},
 author = {Darwall, W. R. T.; Smith, K. G.; Tweddle, D. and Skelton, P.},
 publisher = {IUCN and SAIAB},
 title = {The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in Southern Africa},
 year = {2009}
}
,@book{181777,
 address = {Halfway House},
 author = {Skelton, P.H.},
 publisher = {Southern Book Publishers (Pty), Ltd},
 title = {A Complete Guide of the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa},
 year = {1993}
}
,@book{181882,
 address = {Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK},
 author = {IUCN},
 publisher = {IUCN},
 title = {Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0},
 year = {2012}
}
,@article{181882,
 author = {Vrdoljak, S. M., & Hart, R. C},
 journal = {African Journal of Aquatic Science},
 number = {2},
 pages = {125--132},
 title = {Groundwater seeps as potentially important refugia for freshwater fishes on the Eastern Shores of Lake St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa},
 volume = {32},
 year = {2007}
}
,@article{181882,
 author = {Skelton, P.H., Bruton, M.N., Merron, G.S. and van der Waal, B.C.W.},
 journal = {Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology},
 pages = {1--21},
 title = {The fishes of the Okavango drainage system in Angola, South West Africa and Botswana: taxonomy and distribution},
 volume = {50},
 year = {1985}
}
,]

How to cite this assessment

See the partners page

Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Red List of South African Species