Oxylapia is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae. It contains the single species Oxylapia polli, known locally as the songatana. It is an endangered species, endemic to the Marolambo Rapids in the Nosivolo River in east-central Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and sedimentation caused by deforestation. The only other monotypic cichlid genus in Madagascar is Katria, and it is restricted to the same region as Oxylapia. In 2010, the Nosivolo River was designated as a Ramsar Site. The Oxylapia is the conservation flagship species for the district capital Marolambo.
Paretroplus is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family, all of which are endemic to lakes and rivers of Madagascar. The vast majority are threatened and restricted to the northwestern part of the island. Only P. polyactis is found in the southern half of Madagascar and only P. polyactis and P. gymnopreopercularis are found in eastern drainages. Most are restricted to freshwater, but at least P. polyactis and P. maromandia can also be seen in brackish habitats.
The damba is a species of cichlid.
The kotsovato is a species of cichlid from northwestern Madagascar. As presently defined its range spans several river basins, but this could possibly include more than one species. It is threatened by habitat loss and competition from introduced species. This relatively elongate Paretroplus reaches about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length and is closely related to P. gymnopreopercularis, which it resembles. The specific name honours the French fisheries scientist André Kiener.
The damba mipentina is a critically endangered species of cichlid fish from turbid, shallow flood-plain lakes in the Betsiboka and Ikopa River basins in northwestern Madagascar. It has declined drastically because of habitat loss, overfishing and invasive species. It is part of a captive breeding program by public institutions like London Zoo and among fishkeeping hobbyists.
Paretroplus maromandia is an endangered species of cichlid fish from fresh and brackish water in northwestern Madagascar, where known from the Maintsomalaza, Andranomalaza and Maevarano Rivers, and Lake Andrapongy. It has already been extirpated from the lake, and is threatened by habitat loss and invasive species. This relatively deep-bodied Paretroplus reaches 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length.
Paretroplus nourissati, the lamena, is a species of cichlid from the vicinity of the confluence of the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers near Mandritsara in northern Madagascar. This relatively elongate Paretroplus reaches about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length, and is closely related to P. lamenabe and P.tsimoly. P. nourissati is threatened by habitat loss and invasive species.
The kotso is a species of cichlid fish from northwestern Madagascar. Currently rated as data deficient by the IUCN, this species is virtually unknown. The only known specimen is a juvenile that was collected more than 80 years ago. It is not entirely clear where it was collected, but likely from the Maintimaso River or Lake Ambanja, which both are part of the Betsiboka River drainage. Erroneously, the name P. petiti has often been applied to members of a different species, P. dambabe. The specific name honours the French zoologist and anatomist Georges Petit (1892-1973) of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, who collected type.
Paretroplus polyactis is a vulnerable species of cichlid found widely in fresh and brackish water in coastal regions and associated river basins in eastern Madagascar. It is the only Paretroplus found in the southern half of Madagascar, and one of only two found in eastern drainages. P. polyactis is threatened by habitat loss and overfishing. This relatively deep-bodied Paretroplus reaches 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. It shares a large part of its range with a cichlid from another genus, Ptychochromis grandidieri.
Paretroplus gymnopreopercularis is a species of cichlid from the vicinity of the confluence of the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers near Mandritsara in northern Madagascar. Until its official scientific description in 2008, it was temporarily known as the Paretroplus nov. sp. "sofia". It is endangered because of habitat degradation, overfishing and invasive species. Following the construction of a dam on the Mangarahara River, surveys have failed to relocate P. gymnopreopercularis in this river.
Paretroplus tsimoly is a species of cichlid fish from the Betsiboka River basin in northwestern Madagascar. Like other members of the lamena group, it is a rheophile. This relatively elongate Paretroplus reaches about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length, and is closely related to P. lamenabe and P. nourissati.
Ptychochromis grandidieri is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae endemic to river basins along a large part of the eastern coast of Madagascar, although it has been recorded as far as 100 km (62 mi) inland. Uniquely in the genus Ptychochromis, this species also occurs in brackish water. It reaches 35cm in standard length. It shares a large part of its range with a cichlid from another genus, Paretroplus polyactis. The specific name honours Alfred Grandidier (1836-1921), the French naturalist and explorer who, with Henri Joseph Léon Humblot (1852-1914), collected the type.
Ptychochromis is a genus of cichlids endemic to rivers and lakes in Madagascar. One species can also be seen in brackish water. Most species in this genus are threatened, and P. onilahy is probably extinct. Most reach a length of 15 to 20 cm, but P. insolitus reaches 25 cm (10 in), while P. grandidieri and P. oligacanthus reach 35 cm (14 in) and 20 cm (8 in) respectively. The largest species was P. onilahy which may have reached as much as 45 cm (18 in) if reports of fishermen are to be believed.
Ptychochromis inornatus is an endangered species of cichlid endemic to the Ankofia River basin and its tributaries in the eastern part of the Mahajanga Province in Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss. It reaches 12.2 cm (4.8 in) in standard length.
Ptychochromis loisellei is a species of cichlid from the Mahanara River basin north of Sambava in northeastern Madagascar. It remains common within its small range, but it is threatened by habitat loss and introduced species. It reaches about 11.9 centimetres (4.7 in). The similar named Paretroplus loisellei is also restricted to the Mahanara River basin. The specific name honours Paul V. Loiselle, Emeritus Curator of Freshwater Fishes at the New York Aquarium and a researcher in, and campaigner for the conservation of, the freshwater fish of Madagascar.
Ptychochromis onilahy is a species of cichlid endemic to the Onilahy River in southwestern Madagascar. Despite several recent visits to the region, this species has not been recorded since 1962 when the only known five specimens were collected. It is listed as extinct by the IUCN, but the Onilahy River system is large, and there is a small chance remnant populations exist in remote regions. This species can reach a length of 8.6 centimetres (3.4 in) SL.
The trondo mainty is a critically endangered species of cichlid endemic to the Onilahy River Basin in southwestern Madagascar. Its remaining range covers less than 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) and it is highly threatened by habitat loss, fishing, and competition with/predation by introduced species. Another cichlid from the same basin, Ptychochromis onilahy, is probably already extinct. The trondo mainty reaches a standard length (SL) of 24 cm (9.4 in).
Katria is a genus of freshwater fish in the cichlid family. It contains the single species Katria katria, a vulnerable species from the Mangoro and Nosivolo Rivers in east-central Madagascar, that was formerly included in the genus Ptychochromoides. The only other monotypic cichlid genus in Madagascar is Oxylapia, and it is restricted to the same region as Katria. In 2010, the Nosivolo River was designated as a Ramsar Site. The Katria reaches about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length.
Sauvagella robusta is a small species of fish in the family Clupeidae. It is endemic to the Amboaboa and Mangarahara River Basins in northern Madagascar. This relatively slender fish reaches a length of 6.8 cm (2.7 in), and is overall pale yellowish with silvery on the lower parts. Its current conservation status is unclear, but the cichlid Ptychochromis insolitus, which is highly threatened from habitat loss, is native to the same region. Sauvagella robusta is known to survive at least in Lake Tseny.
Ptychochromis ernestmagnusi is a species of fish cichlid only known from the Mananara du Nord River in northeastern Madagascar, but it is probably more widespread in that region. If so, it likely occurs in the Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, which would give it a level of protection. It can reach 14.7 cm (5.8 in) in standard length. The specific name honours Ernest Magnus (1908-1983) who was the uncle of the German-American marine biologist and ichthyologist Rudolf Arndt who gave generous support to the author's research, at the request of Anrdt's family, whose “generous gift” supported the authors’ research. Magnus played an important part in assisting the Arndt family to survive in Berlin after the Second World War and then emigrate to New York City in 1950, by giving them "food, clothing, shelter, love, many kindnesses and moral support".
