Mazarunia pala
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Mazarunia pala faces severe pressure from gold mining activities that contaminate its freshwater habitats with mercury and sediments. Deforestation for agriculture and logging has degraded the riparian forests essential for maintaining water quality in its limited range. The species' restricted distribution in the Mazaruni River basin makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Habitat
This freshwater fish inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams and tributaries within the Mazaruni River system in Guyana's interior highlands. It requires well-oxygenated waters with rocky substrates and intact forest canopy cover that maintains stable water temperatures and quality.
