Plesiolebias xavantei
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Plesiolebias xavantei faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching activities that destroy and fragment its seasonal wetland habitats in the Brazilian Cerrado. The species' dependence on temporary pools makes it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes caused by water extraction for irrigation and altered precipitation patterns. Habitat degradation from sedimentation and pollution further compromises the water quality essential for this killifish's survival and reproduction.
Habitat
This annual killifish inhabits temporary seasonal pools and wetlands in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna, particularly in areas with sandy soils that form shallow water bodies during the rainy season. The species requires these ephemeral aquatic environments for its complete life cycle, with eggs surviving the dry season buried in substrate until the next flooding period.
Other threatened species in RIVULIDAE
Threatened in Brazil
Frequently asked questions
Why is Plesiolebias xavantei classified as Endangered?
Where does Plesiolebias xavantei live?
What are the main threats to Plesiolebias xavantei?
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