Fishes

The Popondetta Blue-eye (Pseudomugil connieae) occurs in three river systems within a 50 km radius of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea. Its total range area is no more than 16,000 km². Human population growth in Popondetta is the main threat to this fish, with increased urbanization and agriculture, which are potential sources of water pollution, resulting in reduced habitat quality within these river systems. This fish is also a much sought after species in the aquarium trade, which poses another potential threat to the population. The species entered the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable in 2009. Photo © Gerald Allen

Kunming Snout Trout (Schizothorax grahami) is known only from Lake Dianchi, and its tributaries and connented springs in Yunnan Province, China. Its range size has been reduced over the last 20 years due to introduced fish species, water pollution, over-fishing, and loss of breeding sites due to siltation and blocked access. As a result, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered. This fish is no longer caught in the lake itself; currently it is known to occur only in two tributaries and two springs of the Songhuaba reservoir drainage. Photo © Tony Whitten

The Golden Line Fish (Sinocyclocheilus grahami) is endemic to Lake Dianchi and its tributaries and springs in Yunnan Province, China. It used to be a very common and important commercial fishery species, but it has undergone a massive population decline from around the mid-1960s and totally disappeared from the lake body in the 1990s. This fish supported a high harvest in the lake before the 1960s. Surveys carried out since 1999 have found it only existing in one lake tributary and some temple spring ponds. Its loss from the lake is likely due to introduced fish species, declining water quality, loss of macrophytes (in part due to the Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella), over-fishing, and also breeding sites lost due to siltation and blocked access. Current threats to the springs are introduced species (especially Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and Red-eared Slider Turtle Trachemys scripta elegans) and land use adjacent to the springs. This fish is listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List. Photo © J.X. Yang

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The Giant Pangasius (Pangasius sanitwongsei) is a Critically Endangered fish found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong river basins in Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. It is inhabits the bottom and midwaters of large rivers surrounded by rainforest, and uses deep pools as refuges in the dry season. Though this fish migrates within freshwater, it does not appear to migrate over the Khone Falls, and may therefore be separated into two sub-populations. Overfishing for food, and to a lesser extent the aquarium trade, is the principle threat facing this species. Local fisherman have reported dramatic declines in sightings and catch, and a population decline of more than 99% over the past 30-45 years is inferred. This species is likely to have been affected by the destruction of rapids and reefs as part of the Upper Mekong Navigation Improvement Project, and by the construction of dams. Projects such as these affect the natural flood/drought cycles throughout the river, and therefore the migratory behaviour of fish such as the Giant Pangasius. Photo © Chavalit Vidthayanon

The Red Line Torpedo Barb (Puntius denisonii) is a Vulnerable species known from only four rivers in the Western Ghats, India. Its total range area is less than 9,000 km². The biodiversity in this region is under threat from deforestation, agriculture, mining, hydroelectric projects, and urban expansion, all of which have a severe environmental impact on soil and water quality. This fish is also a very popular ornamental aquarium fish, both in national and international markets. Currently many of these endemic, high value ornamental fishes are exploited for commercial purposes from the wild, but the quantities of these fishes exploited for trade purposes are not available. Photo © A. Gopalakrishnan

The African Lungfish (Protopterus annectens) is found in marginal swamps and backwaters of rivers and lakes. Like all African lungfishes, this fish has adapted to be able to survive in conditions where water oxygen levels are low, or when its freshwater habitat has completely dried up. It normally lives on flood plains, and when these dry up it secretes a thin slime around itself, which dries into a cocoon and allows this fish to survive out of water for many months. There are no threats known to be currently affecting this widespread species and it is an example of one of the Least Concern species currently included on the IUCN Red List. Photo © T. Moritz

Betta pinguis is known only from the middle Kapuas River basin in Indonesia. In the last ten years, illegal gold mining in this basin area has increased dramatically, and as a result the Kapuas River is experiencing environmental problems, including an increase in mercury pollution in the river. So far, efforts to prevent water pollution and environmental destruction in the basin have failed, and the damage continues. In addition, freshwater habitats in Kalimantan are threatened by deforestation, conversion of land to agriculture, overfishing, the introduction of exotics and the aquaculture industry. It is inferred that the Betta pinguis population is declining as a result of these threats, and the species entered the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable in 2009. Photo © Heok Hui Tan

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The Pungu (Pungu maclareni) is a Critically Endangered fish endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, in Cameroon. It lives near the lake bottom in the shallow water of the lake shore and feeds on benthic invertebrates. Females brood their eggs in their mouths. Lake Barombi Mbo is at risk from the effects of introduced crustaceans and fishes, water pollution, and siltation due to local deforestation and water extraction for agriculture and domestic use, all of which pose a threat to the Pungu. Fluctuations in the lake level have impacted fish breeding sites. The Pungu is also collected for the aquariam trade. Photo © Ulrich Schliewen

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Puntius denisonii

• Summary

• Classification Schemes

• Images & External Links

• Bibliography

• Full Account

Taxonomy Assessment Information Geographic Range Population Habitat and Ecology Threats Conservation Actions Bibliography

View Printer Friendly Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family ANIMALIA CHORDATA ACTINOPTERYGII CYPRINIFORMES CYPRINIDAE

Scientific Name: Puntius denisonii Species Authority: (Day, 1865) Common Name/s: English – Denison Barb, Red Line Torpedo Barb Synonym/s: Barbus denisoni (Day, 1865)

Barbus denisonii (Day, 1865) Crossocheilus denisonii (Day,1865) Labeo denisonii Day, 1865 Puntius denisoni (Day, 1865)

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Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed: 2007 Assessor/s Devi, R. & Boguskaya, N. Evaluator/s: Collen, B., Darwall, W., Ram, M. & Smith, K. (SRLI Freshwater Fish Evaluation

Workshop) Justification: P. denisonii has been assessed as Vulnerable because it has a restricted Extent of Occurrence (less than 20,000 km²), is suffering from a decline in habitat quality and number of mature individuals, and is found in four locations.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:

This species is endemic to four rivers - the Cheenkannipuzha (a major tributary of the Valapattanam river), Achankovil, Chaliyar, and near Mundakayam town) Kerala, India. The species has an estimated range of 8,805 km².

Countries: ve: a (Kerala)

Population [top]

Population: Initial studies using microsatellite markers have shown signs of genetic bottleneck in the Valapattanam River population (R. Devi, Pers. Comm.).

Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:

P. denisonii is a benthopelagic species which inhabits fast flowing hill streams, and is a fast and active shoaling fish.

Systems: Freshwater List of Habitats: 5 Wetlands (inland)

5.1 Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): P. denisonii is likely to be threatened by habitat degradation. The biodiversity of the Western Ghats is under threat owing to deforestation, agriculture, mining, hydroelectric projects, and urban expansion, all of which has a severe environmental impact on soil and water quality. P. denisonii is also a very popular ornamental aquarium fish, in national and international markets. Currently many of the endemic, high value ornamental fishes are exploited for commercial purposes from the wild, but the quantities of these fishes exploited for trade purposes are not available.

List of Threats: 1 Residential & commercial development 1.1 Housing & urban areas 2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.2 Wood & pulp plantations 2.2.2 Agro-industry plantations 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching 2.3.3 Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming

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3 Energy production & mining 3.2 Mining & quarrying 5 Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting 5.3.2 Intentional use: (large scale) 5.4 Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources 5.4.1 Intentional use: (subsistence/small scale) 7 Natural system modifications 7.2 Dams & water management/use 7.2.11 Dams (size unknown) 9 Pollution 9.1 Domestic & urban waste water 9.1.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded 9.2 Industrial & military effluents 9.2.2 Seepage from mining 9.3 Agricultural & forestry effluents 9.3.4 Type Unknown/Unrecorded

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:

It is not known if there are any conservation measures in place or needed.

List of Conservation Actions:

1 Land/water protection 1.2 Resource & habitat protection

Citations: Anon. 1999. Fish collection database of the Natural History Museum (London).

Available at: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/research/projects/fish/index.dsml.

Baensch, H.A. and Riehl, R. 1997. Aquarien Atlas. Band 5. Mergus Verlag GmBH, Melle, Germany.

Dahanukar, N., Raut, R. and Bhat, A. 2004. Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India. Journal of Biogeography 31: 123-136.

Froese, R and Pauly, D. 2006. FishBase. Gopalakrishnan, A. and Ponniah, A.G. 2000. Cultivable, ornamental, sport and food

fishes endemic to Peninsular India with special reference to Western Ghats. In: A.G. Ponniah and A. Gopalakrishnan (eds), Endemic Fish Diversity of Western Ghats, pp. 13-32. NBFGR-NATP Publication. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, U.P., India.

Hanel, L. and Novák, J. 2002. České názvy zivočichů V. Ryby a ryboviti obratlovci (Pisces) 3., maloústí (Gonorhynchiformes) - máloostní (Cypriniformes). Národní muzeum (zoologické oddělení), Praha.

IUCN. 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2009.2). Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 3 November 2009).

Kapoor, D., Dayal, R. and Ponniah, A.G. 2002. Fish biodiversity of India. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Lucknow.

Kurup, B.M., Radhakrishnan, K.V. and Manojkumar, T.G. 2003. Biodiversity Status of Fishes Inhabiting Rivers of Kerala (SouthIndia) with Special Reference to Endemism, Threats and Conservation Measures. Large Rivers Symposium 2: Sustaining Livelihoods and Biodiversity in the New Millenium. Phnom Penh.

Molur, S. and Walker, S. 1998. Freshwater fishes of India. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Workshop. Zoo Outreach Organisation, Tamil Nadu, India.

Talwar, P.K. and Jhingran, A.G. 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries. A.A. Balkema/Rotterdam.

Varjo, M., L. Koli and H. Dahlström. 2004. Kalannimiluettelo (versio 10/03). Suomen Biologian Seura Vanamo Ry.

Wu, H.L., Shao, K.T. and Lai, C.F. 1999. Latin-Chinese dictionary of fishes names. The Sueichan Press, Taiwan.

Citation: Devi, R. & Boguskaya, N. 2007. Puntius denisonii. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 January 2010.

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Bibliography [top]

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