Ophthalmolebias suzarti
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ophthalmolebias suzarti faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its temporary pool environments are increasingly drained for agricultural expansion and urban development. The species' dependence on seasonal rainfall patterns makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change-induced alterations in precipitation cycles. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste further degrades the quality of remaining breeding pools, while the introduction of non-native fish species poses additional predation pressure on this endemic killifish.
Habitat
This annual killifish inhabits temporary freshwater pools and seasonal wetlands in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. The species depends on ephemeral water bodies that form during the rainy season and dry completely during drought periods, requiring drought-resistant eggs that can survive in dried sediment.