Triplophysa shilinensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Triplophysa shilinensis faces severe pressure from water extraction and dam construction that fragments its already limited river habitat in the Shilin region of Yunnan Province. Agricultural runoff and urban development have degraded water quality in its native streams, while introduced fish species compete for resources and potentially hybridize with native populations. Climate change-induced alterations to precipitation patterns threaten the seasonal flow regimes this endemic loach depends upon for reproduction.
Habitat
This endemic loach inhabits clear, fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers in the karst limestone terrain of the Shilin Stone Forest region in Yunnan Province, China. It prefers rocky substrates with good water flow and high dissolved oxygen levels typical of highland freshwater systems.
