Melanorivulus rutilicaudus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Melanorivulus rutilicaudus faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in Brazil's Atlantic Forest region, where deforestation and agricultural expansion have fragmented its freshwater environments. Urban development and water pollution from agricultural runoff further compromise the small streams and seasonal pools this killifish depends upon. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, with climate-driven alterations to rainfall patterns potentially affecting the ephemeral water bodies essential for its reproduction.
Habitat
This killifish inhabits small freshwater streams, temporary pools, and seasonal wetlands within Brazil's Atlantic Forest biome. It typically occurs in shallow, slow-moving waters with dense aquatic vegetation and organic substrates.