Melanorivulus scalaris
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Melanorivulus scalaris faces severe threats from habitat degradation in Brazil's Atlantic Forest region, where urban expansion and agricultural conversion have fragmented its freshwater environments. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste, which degrades the water quality essential for this killifish's survival. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the seasonal water bodies this species depends upon.
Habitat
This killifish inhabits small freshwater streams, temporary pools, and seasonal wetlands in Brazil's Atlantic Forest region. The species typically occurs in shallow, slow-moving waters with dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrates.