Leptolebias marmoratus
Overview
Leptolebias marmoratus, the marbled pearlfish, annual tropical killifish or ginger pearlfish, is a species of killifish in the family Rivulidae. This threatened species is found in temporary channels within dense Atlantic rainforest, in the floodplains of rivers draining into the Baía de Guanabara, near the city of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. It reaches up to 3 cm (1.2 in) in total length.
Leptolebias marmoratus faces severe threats from habitat destruction as coastal wetlands are converted for urban development and agriculture along Brazil's Atlantic coast. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, with pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste degrading the shallow temporary pools essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles critical for this annual killifish's reproductive success.
Habitat
This annual killifish inhabits shallow, temporary freshwater pools and seasonal wetlands in coastal lowland areas of southeastern Brazil. The species depends on ephemeral water bodies that fill during rainy seasons and dry completely during drought periods, requiring specific hydrological cycles for successful reproduction and development.
Other threatened species in RIVULIDAE
Threatened in Brazil
Frequently asked questions
Why is Leptolebias marmoratus classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Leptolebias marmoratus live?
What are the main threats to Leptolebias marmoratus?
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