VU

Trichomycterus chungaraensis

Local name: Bagre de Chungará

Unknown

Overview

Trichomycterus chungaraensis is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Trichomycteridae, the pencil and parasitic catfishes. This catfish is endemic to Chile, where it is found in the streams around Lake Chungará. This species grows to a length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in).

The Bagre de Chungará faces significant threats from its extremely restricted range in the high-altitude Lake Chungará ecosystem of the Chilean Altiplano. Climate change poses a severe risk through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that could dramatically affect the lake's water levels and chemistry. Mining activities and water extraction in the region further threaten the delicate aquatic ecosystem this endemic catfish depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to Lake Chungará, a high-altitude freshwater lake at approximately 4,500 meters elevation in the Chilean Altiplano near the border with Bolivia and Peru. This species inhabits the cold, oxygen-rich waters of this volcanic lake system within Lauca National Park.

FRESHWATER· major

Other threatened species in Trichomycteridae

VU

laucha de Gorgona

Trichomycterus gorgona

Unknown
VU

Trichomycterus spelaeus

Unknown
EN

Trichomycterus arleoi

Unknown
EN

Trichomycterus emanueli

Unknown

Threatened in Chile

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Sciaena callaensisCR

Sciaena callaensis

Unknown
Chilean FlamingoVU

Chilean Flamingo

Phoenicopterus chilensis

Unknown
small mallowVU

small mallow

Malva pusilla

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bagre de Chungará classified as Vulnerable?
Bagre de Chungará is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Bagre de Chungará faces significant threats from its extremely restricted range in the high-altitude Lake Chungará ecosystem of the Chilean Altiplano. Climate change poses a severe risk through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that could dramatically affect the lake's water levels and chemistry. Mining activities and water extraction in the region further threaten the delicate aquatic ecosystem this endemic catfish depends upon.
Where does Bagre de Chungará live?
Bagre de Chungará occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bagre de Chungará?
The main threats to Bagre de Chungará are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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