| Austroglanis barnardi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Austroglanididae |
| Genus: | Austroglanis |
| Species: | A. barnardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Austroglanis barnardi (P. H. Skelton, 1981) | |
Austroglanis barnardi is an endangered species of catfish (order Siluriformes). It is one of three members of the family Austroglanididae. [2] It is also known as the spotted rock-catfish or Barnard's rock-catfish. [3] [4]
Not much is known about the biology of A. barnardi because of the discovery being so recent. It has a 12-year generation time but nothing more is known about reproduction within the species. [3] [5] It feeds on aquatic insects, benthic invertebrates and other small fishes. [2]
This species is endemic to South Africa and is found only in freshwater bodies of subtropical climate. [4] It has only been recorded from the Thee, Noordhoeks and Hex Rivers, which are all small tributaries of the Clanwilliam Olifants River System in the Western Cape, South Africa. [3] [2] [5] It is extremely uncommon in these two streams it inhabits. [3] A. barnardi inhabits riffles among loosely bedded rocks and coarse sand. [3] Its preferred water depth is between 10-60 centimeters. [2] Other species that occur in this area include Pseudobarbus phlegethon, Barbus calidus, and Austroglanis gilli. [3]
These fish reach a length of about 8 centimeters (3 in). [4] Its head is flattened with a broad snout with its eyes located on the top of the head. The mouth is located on the underside of the head along with fleshy lips. It has three pairs of barbels. It has short, round fins accompanied by weak, curved spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins. [2] Their color is golden-brown with dark brown blotches. [3]
A. barnardi is threatened by various forms of habitat destruction such as stream channelization, water abstraction, and sedimentation, all of which reduce the incidence of their obligate riffle habitat. [3] Portions of their river habitat are adjacent to agricultural fields and orchards, so it is likely that pesticides and insecticides affect populations. It has been threatened by the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia, smallmouth bass and the bluegill sunfish. [5]
Biologists have recently discussed many conservation methods. In 2013, an alien fish barrier was constructed across a section of the Noordhoeks River to keep Micropterus species from moving upstream from this section of river. Additionally, invasive spotted bass were removed mechanically from sections of the Thee river mechanically between 2010 and 2014. No known populations are currently within the boundaries of any provincial nature reserves. [5]
The spotted bass, also called spotty, or spots in various fishing communities, is a species of freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters. It is often mistaken for the similar and more common largemouth bass.
The Olifants River is a river in the northwestern area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The upper and main catchment area of the Olifants river is around Ceres and the Cederberg mountains. The Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams are located on the river and provide water for the towns and farms along the watercourse. The river is approximately 285 km long with a catchment area of 46,220 km2 and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Papendorp, 250 km north of Cape Town.
The Neosho madtom is a small North American freshwater catfish. It has been listed as a near-threatened species in the United States since 1996.
Austroglanis is the only genus in the catfish family Austroglanididae. This family was split off from the Bagridae catfish family. All three species of catfishes in the family Austroglanididae are endemic to southern Africa, and two species are threatened.
Horabagrus brachysoma or the sun catfish is a species of catfish endemic to rivers in the Western Ghats of India. It is known as Günther's catfish or yellow catfish. It is also known as Manjakoori in its native range. It is also known by a host of other names, such as bullseye catfish, golden red tail catfish, solar catfish, and sun catfish.
The Cape whitefish or Berg-breede River whitefish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative was at one time considered the sawfin.
The Clanwilliam redfin, is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative is probably the Twee River redfin.
The Clanwilliam yellowfish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It has long been placed in Barbus, the "wastebin genus" for barbs, by default; however, the species is increasingly being restored to related yellowfish genus Labeobarbus which seems a much more appropriate placement. It is hexaploid like the other yellowfish, among which it is more closely related to the smallscale yellowfish than to the largescale yellowfish.
The fiery redfin is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae.
The rock-catfish, Austroglanis sclateri, is a species of catfish in the family Austroglanididae. This freshwater fish is endemic to the Vaal River in South Africa. It is also found in Lesotho and Namibia.
The spotted darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is endemic to the eastern United States where it occurs in the basin of the Ohio River. It inhabits fast-flowing rocky riffles of medium-sized and smaller rivers. This species can reach a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL though most only reach about 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in).
Leptodea leptodon, the scaleshell mussel or scale shell, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk has disappeared from much of its historical range. It is endemic to the United States, where it is now present in four or fewer states; it is only found with any regularity in Missouri. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
The Louisiana pearlshell, Margaritifera hembeli, is a rare species of bivalve mollusk in the family Margaritiferidae. This freshwater mussel is native to Louisiana in the United States, and was previously present also in Arkansas. It grows to a length of about 10 cm (4 in) and lives on the sand or gravel stream-bed in riffles and fast flowing stretches of small streams. Its life cycle involves a stage where it lives parasitically inside a fish. This mollusk is sensitive to increased sedimentation and cannot tolerate impoundments. Because of its limited range and its population decline, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this mollusk as being "critically endangered".
Synodontis macrostoma, known as the largemouth squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Namibia and Zambia where it is found in the Kafue, upper Zambezi, Okavango and Cunene Rivers. It was first described by Paul H. Skelton and Peter N. White in 1990. The original specimens were obtained in Upper Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo, Caprivi, Namibia. The species name macrostoma means "large mouth", which refers to its distinctive large mouth.
Noturus flavus, the stonecat, is a North American freshwater catfish of the family Ictaluridae. The common name is due to its habit of hiding near or under stones in fast-moving water.
Noturus hildebrandi, also known as the least madtom, is a species of catfish. Its native range stretches from the Obion River in Kentucky to the Homochitto River in Mississippi.
The brindled madtom is a small catfish of the family Ictaluridae that is native to the eastern United States.
The freckled madtom a species of freshwater madtom (catfish) found in the eastern United States. The freckled madtom is a benthic feeder mostly of invertebrates and usually inhabits waters that are medium to large in size, living mostly in riffle areas that have mostly clear waters and rocky bottoms. Its spawning season occurs from spring to early summer in riffle areas, and sexual maturation occurs after two years.
The gravel chub, also known as the spotted chub, is a freshwater minnow from the family Cyprinidae. This species of fish has a spotted distribution inhabiting various small rivers and streams in North America. The gravel chub requires a highly specific clean habitat making it vulnerable to various types of pollutants and in need of conservation efforts.
Percina roanoka, the Roanoke darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It isnative to Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina in the United States. It is found in the Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse river systems, typically in small to medium size rivers. It is a colorful species with an average length of 4.3 centimeters (1.7 in). It feeds on insect larvae and other small invertebrates, and spawns in late May and June. It is a common fish with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified its conservation status as being of "least concern".
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