Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Roger Bills
Facilitators: Dewidine Van Der Colff
Reviewers: Edward Harrison

Rationale

The species is only known from the Orange River System in South Africa and Namibia. It is known from two subpopulations and these subpopulations are potentially impacted from upstream river conditions. Currently it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 26,838 km2 and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 164 km2. It is abundant at present and appears to be coping well with pollution levels within the Orange River System. The species is assessed as Least Concern and should be closely monitored.

Distribution

Lower Orange River System in South Africa and Namibia, from the Augrabies falls to the river mouth.

Population trend

Trend

The species is abundant and widespread within the main channels of lower Orange River System. No reports published of population variation or abundance. The species appears to be quite resilient to pollution and water flow variations, as there are major variations in flows due to sporadic dam releases associated with varying electricity demand/supply and chemical pollution (both industrial and municipal).

Threats

The lower Orange main channel experiences fluctuations in water levels due to varying dam releases associated with varying electricity demand and production. This has a direct impact on some species by stranding them in marginal habitats and also affects invertebrate population productivity (food sources). Pollution from a variety of urban and industrial sources also accumulates down the system but then essentially stops at Upington. Despite these serious impacts this species seem to be thriving. It was abundant in most sites sampled (R Bills 2017, pers. comm.).

Conservation

Large portions of the lower Orange are either in reserves, restricted access because of being in diamond areas (Namibia) or are very inaccessible. There is no specific protection of fishes in the region.

References 

[@electronic{63269,
 address = {http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catelog/fishcatmain.asp},
 author = {Eschmeyer, W.N., Fricke, R. and Van der Laan, R. (eds.)},
 title = {Catalog of Fishes: genera, species, references. Updated 02 March 2018},
 year = {2018}
}
,@article{126219629,
 author = {Barnard KH },
 journal = {Annals of the South African Museum},
 pages = {101--263},
 title = {Revision of the indigenous freshwater fishes of the S.W. Cape Region},
 volume = {36.0},
 year = {1943}
}
,@article{126219629,
 author = {Riddin, M.A., Bills, I.R. and Villet, M.H.},
 journal = {ZooKeys},
 pages = {121--150},
 title = {Phylogeographic, morphometric and taxonomic re-evaluation of the river sardine, <i>Mesobola brevianalis</i> (Boulenger, 1908) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Chedrini)},
 volume = {641.0},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
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