Leptopanchax opalescens
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Leptopanchax opalescens faces severe threats from habitat destruction as coastal wetlands in its limited West African range are converted for agriculture and urban development. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities degrades the shallow freshwater pools and seasonal wetlands this killifish depends upon. Climate change intensifies these pressures through altered rainfall patterns that affect the ephemeral water bodies essential for breeding.
Habitat
This killifish inhabits shallow freshwater pools, seasonal wetlands, and temporary water bodies in coastal West Africa. It requires ephemeral aquatic environments that fill during rainy seasons and may partially dry during drought periods.