Melanorivulus karaja
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Melanorivulus karaja faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching activities that degrade its freshwater habitats in the Brazilian Cerrado. Urban development and water extraction for irrigation further fragment and pollute the small streams and seasonal pools this species depends on. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could dry up critical breeding habitats during reproductive seasons.
Habitat
This killifish inhabits small freshwater streams, temporary pools, and shallow wetlands within the Brazilian Cerrado savanna ecosystem. It typically occurs in areas with slow-moving or standing water with dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrates.