In Southern Africa this species is widely distributed and usually numerous and has adapted well to impoundments, including Lake Kariba. It was assessed in this region as Least Concern in 2010 and was reevaluated as the same in 2016, during the Southern African Freshwater Fish assessment in 2016. In Eastern Africa in it occurs in the Lake Malawi catchment as well as in Lakes Chiuta and Chilwa. There are minor concerns over potential impacts of ongoing habitat degradation that is taking place in many streams in Malawi. Overall this species is assessed as Least Concern throughout its range.
Distribution
This species has a widespread distribution in Africa. In Southern Africa this species is abundant throughout the Zambezi and Okavango systems and has also been recorded from the Orange River System and Durban, southern KwaZulu-Natal northwards throughout the region. It extends north to southern Congo tributaries. It has recently been recorded as extralimital in the Baakens River, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Muller et al. 2015). In Eastern Africa it occurs in the Lake Malawi lakeshore rivers (Skelton 2001), including the Limphasa/ Luweya system and the Nkhotakota wildlife reserve in the Lake Malawi catchment. It is also abundant in lakes Chilwa and Chiuta.
This species is abundant in suitable habitats. The overall population trend is stable.
Threats
There are localised impacts but no major threats across its range.
Uses and trade
This species is harvested for human consumption, aquariums and research. It is caught in fish traps at Chiuta, where it has a slight commercial importance. In South Africa it has been used for mosquito control (Bruton and van As 1986).
[@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}
}
,@article{182803,
author = {Muller, C., Strydom, N.A. and Weyl, O.L.F},
journal = {Water South Africa},
number = {5},
pages = {746--752},
title = {Fish community of small, temperate, urban river in South Africa},
volume = {41.0},
year = {2015}
}
,]
