Ituglanis epikarsticus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ituglanis epikarsticus faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range in the Chapada Diamantina karst system of Bahia, Brazil. The species is vulnerable to groundwater contamination from agricultural runoff and mining activities in the region. Cave tourism and infrastructure development pose additional risks to the delicate subterranean ecosystem this catfish depends upon.
Habitat
This species inhabits underground karst cave systems and associated groundwater networks in the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia, Brazil. It is specifically adapted to the dark, nutrient-poor subterranean aquatic environments typical of limestone cave ecosystems.