Konye | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Konia |
Species: | K. eisentrauti |
Binomial name | |
Konia eisentrauti (Trewavas, 1962) | |
Synonyms | |
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The konye (Konia eisentrauti) is a critically endangered species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, a crater lake in western Cameroon. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos). This species can reach a length of 9.3 centimetres (3.7 in) TL.
The konye is a small species of cichlid growing to a length of about 9.3 cm (3.7 in). It is somewhat laterally compressed and has a horizontal mouth and sloping forehead. The fins are colourless. the dorsal fin has 15 to 16 spines and 10 to 11 soft rays; the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 to 9 soft rays. [2] The colouring of this fish is distinctive, with a pale background shade and a row of dark blotches running down the back, and another row along each flank. The head is mostly bare of scales, the cheeks have a few scales and the body is fully scaled. [3]
The konye is a benthopelagic species living in the warm upper waters of the lake where the temperature is around 26 °C (79 °F). It feeds on pieces of plant, scraping algae off rocks and stones, and also on mayflies, small invertebrates and fish eggs and sometimes steals food collected by freshwater crabs. This fish is a mouthbrooder. Either of the parents take the fertilised eggs into their mouth, and retain them there for protection. While mouthbrooding, the fish tends to remain quietly near the lakebed, and females tend to be more successful at raising the young than males. The incubation period is 7 to 10 days, the fry usually being expelled to live independently after about three weeks. [2] [3]
The konye is known from a single body of water, Lake Barombi Mbo, in Cameroon. The area around the lake is increasingly being deforested and used for slash-and-burn agriculture and palm oil plantations. This has encouraged sedimentation in the lake and pollution. Being more exposed to winds than previously, there is a danger that the waters of the lake may "turn over", with deep, cold, oxygen-poor water replacing the warm, nutrient-rich and well-oxygenated surface layers. Another possible hazard that the fish may face in this crater lake is outgassing, the emission of "burps" of CO2 formerly held in solution. [1] An episode of this sort is thought to have occurred in 2007, when many deep water fish were found floating on the surface of the lake. As a result of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this fish as "critically endangered". [1]
The specific name honours Martin Eisentraut (1902-1994), a German zoologist, who was leader of the expedition which collected the type. [4]
Clarias maclareni is a critically endangered species of catfish in the family Clariidae. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. It is currently threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos). It is known to grow to 36 centimetres (14 in) TL. Large individuals feed mainly on other fishes (especially cichlids), while smaller individuals mainly feed on insects.
The dikume is a critically endangered species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon.
The myaka (Myaka myaka) is a critically endangered species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. It prefers open, deeper waters where it feeds on phytoplankton and small insects, only venturing into shallower waters to spawn. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) SL. It is currently the only known species in the genus Myaka, but it is very close to Sarotherodon. The myaka is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas. Konia, Pungu and Stomatepia are three other equally threatened genera of cichlids that also are endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo.
The pungu is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon where it prefers shallow waters of about 1 to 3 metres in depth. It feeds on invertebrates, sponges, diatoms and macrophytes. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. It is currently the only known member of its genus, nested within the Sarotherodon. The pungu is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation from human activities. Konia, Myaka and Stomatepia are three other equally threatened genera of cichlids that also are endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo. The specific name of this fish honours the Fisheries Development Officer of Nigeria, P.I.R. MacLaren, who used his position to collect specimens of fishes, including the type of this species. The genus name honors common name of this fish used by the Barombi people ("pungu").
The leka keppe (Sarotherodon lohbergeri) or keppi, is a species of cichlid essentially endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon, but additionally two juveniles have been found in the Kumba Stream (Kake River), a tributary of the lake's outlet. This species reaches a length of 16.2 centimetres (6.4 in) SL. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.
The kululu (Sarotherodon steinbachi) e.g. Vikululu - Nikululu - Akululu - Bokululu - Hekululu is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. This species can reach a length of 11.3 centimetres (4.4 in) SL. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.
The nsess (Stomatepia mariae) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is critically endangered because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.
Stomatepia is a genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. Although generally recognized as distinct, the genus is very close to Sarotherodon. The Stomatepia species are all recognized as critically endangered by the IUCN because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. They are potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas. Konia, Myaka and Pungu are three other equally threatened genera of cichlids that also are endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo.
The pindu is a critically endangered species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon.
Coptodon deckerti is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family, endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Ejagham is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas. A species of catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis has recently been introduced to the lake, and this probably presents a serious threat to the endemic cichlids.
Coptodon snyderae is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Bermin in Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Bermin is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas. The specific name of this cichlid honours Alexandra Snyder (b. 1953), a museum collection manager, whose assistance in the field contributed to the success of Wallace J. Dominey's 1985 expedition to Lake Bermin, Cameroon.
Coptodon thysi is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Bermin in Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Bermin is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas. The specific name honours the Dutch ichthyologist Dirk Thys van den Audenaerde (b. 1934), a pioneer of the study of tilapine cichlids in Africa.
Lake Barombi Mbo or Barombi-ma-Mbu is a lake near Kumba in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is located in the Cameroon volcanic chain, and is the largest volcanic lake in this region. It is one of the oldest radiocarbon-dated lakes in Africa, with the youngest lava flow in it being about one million years old. On old colonial maps the area was known as Elefanten Sea, but the elephants living in the area were extirpated due to ivory trading.
Stomatepia mongo, the mongo, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. It can reach a length of 10.3 centimetres (4.1 in) SL. This species is seriously threatened by pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas. Even compared to other cichlids that are endemic Lake Barombi Mbo, Stomatepia mongo is a very rare species.
Konia is a small genus of critically endangered cichlids endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. Although generally recognized as distinct, the genus is very close to Sarotherodon. The Konia species are threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. They are potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas. Myaka, Pungu and Stomatepia are three other equally threatened genera of cichlids that also are endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo.
Sarotherodon linnellii, sometimes known as the unga, blackfin tilapia or blackbelly tilapia, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. This species reaches a length of 18.5 centimetres (7.3 in) SL. It is critically endangered because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.
Lake Ejagham is a small lake near Eyumodjock in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Unlike many other lakes in the region, it is not a volcanic lake, but is likely a solution basin formed by groundwater during the last Ice Age. This highly isolated lake is roughly oval in shape, lacks an inflow, but has an outflow into the Munaya River. The outflow is impassable to most fishes because of a waterfall.
Sarotherodon lamprechti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. This phytoplanktivore can reach a length of 9.9 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. It has not yet been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the critically endangered Coptodon deckerti, which is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, a catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis that has been introduced to the lake, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Ejagham is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.
Sarotherodon knauerae is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. This species can reach a length of 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) SL and feeds on detritus. It has not yet been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the critically endangered Coptodon deckerti, which is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, a catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis that has been introduced to the lake, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Ejagham is not deep enough to contain very high amounts of this gas.
Lake Barombi Koto, also known as Lake Barombi Kotto or Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto, is a small lake in the volcanic chain in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. It is a volcanic lake with a diameter of about 1.2 km (0.75 mi). There is a small island in the middle, which is densely inhabited by the Barombi, a tribe of fishers. The Tung Nsuia and Tung Nsuria streams, each about 1–2 m wide and 0.3 m deep near their mouth, are the only inflows into the lake, and they dry out in dry season.