Nematolebias papilliferus
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.
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.
