Ophthalmolebias perpendicularis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ophthalmolebias perpendicularis faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its temporary pool habitats are drained for agricultural expansion and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range in southeastern Brazil makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and pollution from agricultural runoff. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for maintaining the seasonal pools this killifish depends upon for reproduction.
Habitat
This critically endangered killifish inhabits temporary seasonal pools and shallow wetlands in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. The species requires ephemeral water bodies that fill during rainy seasons and dry completely during drought periods, a specialized habitat type that is increasingly rare due to human activities.