Killifish
Austrolebias viarius
Austrolebias viarius is a small, colorful annual killifish endemic to temporary wetlands in Uruguay and southern Brazil. Males display vibrant blue and yellow coloration during breeding season, while females are more subdued in appearance.
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Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Cyprinodontiformes
Family
Rivulidae
Genus
Austrolebias
Killifish belongs to the family Rivulidae, order Cyprinodontiformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Austrolebias viarius is a small, colorful annual killifish endemic to temporary wetlands in Uruguay and southern Brazil. Males display vibrant blue and yellow coloration during breeding season, while females are more subdued in appearance. These fish play a crucial role in temporary pond ecosystems as both predators of invertebrates and prey for birds and larger fish.
Austrolebias viarius faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, urban development, and wetland drainage in its limited range. The species' dependence on temporary pools makes it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes and pollution from agricultural runoff.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This killifish inhabits shallow, temporary pools and seasonal wetlands that fill during rainy periods and dry completely during drought seasons. These ephemeral water bodies are typically found in grassland depressions with muddy substrates that preserve the species' drought-resistant eggs.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Austrolebias viarius faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, urban development, and wetland drainage in its limited range. The species' dependence on temporary pools makes it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes and pollution from agricultural runoff.
Habitat loss from agricultural expansion
Urban development and infrastructure
Wetland drainage and hydrological modification
Climate change affecting seasonal pool dynamics
Water pollution from agricultural chemicals
Found in 1 Country
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Killifish (Austrolebias viarius). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/killifish-2349022