CR

Nematolebias papilliferus

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Nematolebias papilliferus faces severe threats from habitat destruction as coastal wetlands in southeastern Brazil are drained for urban development and agriculture. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste degrading the shallow temporary pools essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles critical for reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered killifish inhabits shallow, temporary freshwater pools and seasonal wetlands in coastal lowlands of southeastern Brazil. These ephemeral habitats typically form during rainy seasons in areas with sandy or clay substrates, often associated with Atlantic Forest remnants.

FRESHWATER· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Nematolebias papilliferus classified as Critically Endangered?
Nematolebias papilliferus 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. Nematolebias papilliferus faces severe threats from habitat destruction as coastal wetlands in southeastern Brazil are drained for urban development and agriculture. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste degrading the shallow temporary pools essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles critical for reproduction.
Where does Nematolebias papilliferus live?
Nematolebias papilliferus occurs in Brazil. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nematolebias papilliferus?
The main threats to Nematolebias papilliferus 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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