CR

Deccan Barb

Puntius deccanensis

Unknown

Overview

Puntius deccanensis, the Deccan barb, is a critically endangered species of ray-finned fish in the genus Puntius. It is endemic to the Northern Western Ghats in India.

Puntius deccanensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and water pollution in its native river systems. Dam construction and water extraction for irrigation have significantly altered natural flow regimes, while sedimentation from deforestation has degraded spawning grounds. The species' restricted range in the Western Ghats makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.

Threat summary

Habitat

This freshwater fish inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers in the Western Ghats of India, typically in areas with rocky substrates and moderate to high oxygen levels. It prefers shallow waters with good current flow and is often found in tributaries of major river systems.

FRESHWATER· major

Other threatened species in CYPRINIDAE

VU

Schizopygopsis potanini

Declining
EN

Martenstyni's Barb

Systomus martenstyni

Declining
EN

Cosmochilus cardinalis

Unknown
VU

Enteromius taeniurus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Deccan Barb classified as Critically Endangered?
Deccan Barb is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Puntius deccanensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and water pollution in its native river systems. Dam construction and water extraction for irrigation have significantly altered natural flow regimes, while sedimentation from deforestation has degraded spawning grounds. The species' restricted range in the Western Ghats makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Where does Deccan Barb live?
Deccan Barb occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Deccan Barb?
The main threats to Deccan Barb are 9.3.4, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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