Allotoca zacapuensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Allotoca zacapuensis faces severe threats from habitat degradation and water pollution in its extremely limited range around Lake Zacapu in Michoacán, Mexico. Agricultural runoff and urban development have dramatically altered water quality in the shallow lake systems where this endemic goodeid once thrived. The species has experienced catastrophic population declines, with some surveys suggesting it may already be extinct in the wild, making it one of Mexico's most critically imperiled freshwater fish.
Habitat
This endemic goodeid inhabits shallow, vegetated areas of Lake Zacapu and associated wetlands in the Lerma River basin of Michoacán, Mexico. The species requires clean, well-oxygenated waters with abundant aquatic vegetation and prefers areas with soft substrates and moderate water flow.
