CR

Hypsolebias virgulatus

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Hypsolebias virgulatus faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its temporary pool habitats are drained for agricultural expansion and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with pollution from agricultural runoff and cattle grazing further degrading water quality in remaining pools. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for maintaining the seasonal pools this killifish depends upon for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered killifish inhabits temporary seasonal pools and shallow wetlands in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. The species requires specific hydrological conditions with pools that fill during rainy seasons and gradually dry out, creating the ephemeral aquatic environments essential for its annual life cycle.

Savanna· major

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservation

Other threatened species in RIVULIDAE

EN

Flame Rivulus

Cynodonichthys uroflammeus

Unknown
VU

Hypsolebias picturatus

Unknown
CR

Moema piriana

Unknown
EN

Simpsonichthys santanae

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hypsolebias virgulatus classified as Critically Endangered?
Hypsolebias virgulatus 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. Hypsolebias virgulatus faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its temporary pool habitats are drained for agricultural expansion and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with pollution from agricultural runoff and cattle grazing further degrading water quality in remaining pools. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for maintaining the seasonal pools this killifish depends upon for reproduction.
Where does Hypsolebias virgulatus live?
Hypsolebias virgulatus 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 Hypsolebias virgulatus?
The main threats to Hypsolebias virgulatus 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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