Red List of South African Species

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Near Threatened (NT)
Assessors: Gordon O'Brien Skumbuzo Kubheka John Craigie Steven W. Evans
Facilitators: Dewidine Van Der Colff
Reviewers: Domitilla Raimondo

Rationale

Multiple subpopulations of this species occur within the Maputaland region of northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. Although some subpopulations are abundant where encountered, some are lower and uncommon such as in the uMfolozi and Mkuze systems. These subpopulations are experiencing ongoing decline in habitat quality due to agricultural practices. Severe drought conditions experienced over the past three years has also caused loss of subpopulations, but this may be temporary. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 12,554 km2 and the area of occupancy (AOO) is 200 km2 based on available data. Due to the increases in threats since the 2007 assessment and reduced distribution of the species particularly during the 2015-2017 drought, the conservation status of the species is elevated from Least Concern to Near Threatened B1b(iii)+2b(iii). The species requires close monitoring.

Distribution

Coastal lakes and rivers of Maputaland from the Mhlatuze River near Richards Bay, northern KwaZulu-Natal (Blader 1978, Bruton 1975, Weerts and Cyrus 2001), South Africa to at least the south of the Rio Maputo (Phongolo River), Mozambique. Records from the Umgeni River are unconfirmed.

Population trend

Trend

Sixteen subpopulations have been recorded for this taxon. A number of subpopulations have been lost from pans and river reaches between 2015-2017 due to drought and associated desiccation of ecosystems, however these losses may be temporary. The viability of remaining subpopulations and potential recovery from the drought and threat of alien fishes needs to be monitored to see if this recent loss constitutes an ongoing decline to the number of individuals and subpopulations.

Threats

Widespread agricultural activities affect habitat condition and water quality and flows within the entire region of this species range. Ongoing habitat degradation due to agricultural activities interacting synergisticly with the effects of the severe drought experienced between 2015 and 2016 has affected many of the subpopulations of this species. Coastal dune mining, harbor developments, alien fishes (Hill et al. 2015) and other tourist related coastal developments are potential threats (Allanso et al. 1990, Bills 2001, Cyrus 2001).

Conservation

Some important wetland areas are formally protected such as Sodwana, Kosi Bay, Lake Sibayi (South Africa) and the Maputo Special Reserve (Mozambique). Although some coastal lakes occur within protected areas no formal conservation plans for the aquatic fauna within these reserves exist and many of them are affected by stressors that originate upstream of the reserves. Conservation of aquatic habitats and species need to be considered when coastal developments are planned.

References 

[@electronic{2426,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-3},
 year = {2017}
}
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 title = {Name changes and additions to the southern African freshwater fish fauna},
 year = {2016}
}
,@article{20223,
 author = {Bills, I.R.},
 title = {An inventory of fishes from the Maputo Special Reserve and Futi Corridor, Mozambique (21/9/2001 to 6/10/2001)},
 year = {2001}
}
,@inbook{63310,
 address = {Netherlands},
 author = {Allanson, B. R., Hart, R. C., O’Keeffe, J. H., & Robarts, R. D. },
 booktitle = {The regional limnology of southern Africa.},
 pages = {27--62},
 publisher = {Springer},
 title = {In Inland Waters of Southern Africa: An Ecological Perspective },
 year = {1990}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Blaber, S.J.M.},
 journal = {Lammergeyer },
 pages = {28--41},
 title = {'Fishes of the Kosi system'},
 volume = {24},
 year = {1978}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Bruton, M. N. },
 journal = {Scientiae },
 number = {6},
 pages = {18--28},
 title = {Lake Sibaya - a land-locked estuary},
 volume = {16},
 year = {1975}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Ghedotti MJ.},
 journal = {Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society},
 pages = {1--53},
 title = {Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the poecilioid fishes (Teleostei: Cyprinidontiformes)},
 volume = {130},
 year = {2000}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Weerts, S. P., & Cyrus, D. P. },
 journal = {Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences},
 number = {2},
 pages = {99--107},
 title = {The icthyofauna of the Mhlathuze coastal lakes: some preliminary results},
 volume = {26},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Hill, J. M., Jones, R. W., Hill, M. P., & Weyl, O. L. },
 journal = {Freshwater Biology},
 number = {5},
 pages = {893--902},
 title = {Comparisons of isotopic niche widths of some invasive and indigenous fauna in a South African river. },
 volume = {60},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{63310,
 author = {Cyrus, D. },
 journal = {South Africa. Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences},
 number = {2},
 pages = {115--120},
 title = {A preliminary assessment of impacts on estuarine associated fauna resulting from an intra-basin transfer and fresh water abstraction from aquatic systems in the Richards Bay area of KwaZulu-Natal},
 volume = {26},
 year = {2001}
}
,]
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