CRCritically Endangered

Ophthalmolebias constanciae

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — Species of fish

Overview

Simpsonichthys constanciae is a species of killifish from the family Rivulidae that is endemic to Brazil. It is restricted to temporary freshwater habitats in the São João basin in Rio de Janeiro, while all other species in the genus are from Bahia. It is a small killifish that is up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in total length.

Ophthalmolebias constanciae faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its seasonal pool habitats in the Brazilian Cerrado are converted to agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades the water quality of remaining pools. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for the seasonal flooding cycles these killifish depend upon for reproduction.
Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered killifish inhabits temporary seasonal pools and shallow wetlands in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. These ephemeral water bodies fill during the rainy season and dry completely during drought periods, requiring the species to survive as drought-resistant eggs buried in the substrate.

Other threatened species in RIVULIDAE

Flame Rivulus

Cynodonichthys uroflammeus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ophthalmolebias constanciae classified as Critically Endangered?

Ophthalmolebias constanciae 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. Ophthalmolebias constanciae faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its seasonal pool habitats in the Brazilian Cerrado are converted to agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades the water quality of remaining pools. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for the seasonal flooding cycles these killifish depend upon for reproduction.

Where does Ophthalmolebias constanciae live?

Ophthalmolebias constanciae occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Ophthalmolebias constanciae?

The main threats to Ophthalmolebias constanciae are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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