CR

Nematolebias catimbau

Declining

Overview

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

Nematolebias catimbau faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with temporary pool habitats being drained or contaminated by agricultural runoff. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles essential for this annual killifish's reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Nematolebias catimbau inhabits temporary pools and seasonal wetlands in the Caatinga dry forest of northeastern Brazil. These ephemeral aquatic habitats fill during the rainy season and dry completely during drought periods, requiring the species to complete its entire life cycle within a few months.

FRESHWATER· major

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EN

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Hypsolebias gilbertobrasili

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Kryptolebias campelloi

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nematolebias catimbau classified as Critically Endangered?
Nematolebias catimbau 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 catimbau faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes, with temporary pool habitats being drained or contaminated by agricultural runoff. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles essential for this annual killifish's reproduction.
Where does Nematolebias catimbau live?
Nematolebias catimbau occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nematolebias catimbau?
The main threats to Nematolebias catimbau 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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