CR

Masked Finfoot

Heliopais personatus

Declining

Overview

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

The Masked Finfoot faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive wetland habitat destruction across Southeast Asia, where rapid agricultural expansion and urban development have eliminated crucial freshwater systems. Dam construction and water diversion projects have fragmented remaining suitable habitats, while pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities degrades water quality in surviving wetland areas. Human disturbance from increased boat traffic and fishing activities further pressures this extremely secretive species, which requires undisturbed riparian vegetation for nesting and foraging.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Masked Finfoot inhabits densely vegetated freshwater wetlands, including slow-moving rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, and swamps with overhanging vegetation. It requires pristine aquatic environments with abundant riparian forest cover and minimal human disturbance for feeding on aquatic invertebrates and small fish.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical swamp· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland)· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communications

Threatened in Bangladesh

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Masked Finfoot classified as Critically Endangered?
Masked Finfoot 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. The Masked Finfoot faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive wetland habitat destruction across Southeast Asia, where rapid agricultural expansion and urban development have eliminated crucial freshwater systems. Dam construction and water diversion projects have fragmented remaining suitable habitats, while pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities degrades water quality in surviving wetland areas. Human disturbance from increased boat traffic and fishing activities further pressures this extremely secretive species, which requires undisturbed riparian vegetation for nesting and foraging.
Where does Masked Finfoot live?
Masked Finfoot occurs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia (plus 3 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Masked Finfoot?
The main threats to Masked Finfoot are 1.1, 11.1, 11.4, and 2.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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