Pareiorhaphis mutuca
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Pareiorhaphis mutuca faces severe threats from habitat degradation in Brazil's Atlantic Forest region, where deforestation and agricultural expansion have fragmented its freshwater ecosystems. Dam construction and water pollution from agricultural runoff further compromise the clear, fast-flowing streams this armored catfish requires for survival. The species' limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Habitat
This armored catfish inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. It prefers rocky substrates with good water flow and high oxygen levels typical of montane freshwater systems.
