Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Caught in ringnets. Also caught by means of the angling method (Ref. 4967). Occurs in shallow water over sandy plains, but can also be seen in open water. A hunting predator which chases Engraulicypris sardella (Ref. 5595).
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
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Distribution
Range Description
Endemic to Lake Malawi and its affluent streams.
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IUCN
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Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi.
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
© WorldFish Center - FishBase
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FishBase
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Physical Description
Size
Max. size
47.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 2801))
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
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FishBase
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
A lacustrine species, living in the pelagic zone of the lake. Juveniles remain close inshore and near the river mouths. The adults are piscivourous, feeding on small pelagic fishes. Young fish feed on plankton, insects and other small organic matter. It migrates up rivers from the lake to spawn during the rainy season. Spawning mainly takes place at night and requires well-oxygenated flowing waters and silt free gravel. Spawning takes place in very shallow water and occurs over an extended period during and after the rains.
Systems
- Freshwater
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Environment
demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater
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Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683
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Migration
Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
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Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683
© WorldFish Center - FishBase
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FishBase
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Trophic Strategy
Caught in ringnets. Also caught by means of the angling method (Ref. 4967). Occurs in shallow water over sandy plains, but can also be seen in open water. A hunting predator that chases Engraulicypris sardella (Ref. 5595).
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Konings, A. 1990 Ad Konings's book of cichlids and all the other fishes of Lake Malawi. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, N.J., 495 p. (Ref. 5595)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5595&speccode=5238
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
EN
Endangered
Red List Criteria
A2bcd
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2006
Assessor/s
Kazembe, J., Magombo, Z., Khawa, D. & Kaunda, E.
Reviewer/s
Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification
Endemic to Lake Malawi and its catchment. Population reduction is estimated at not less than 50% (from direct observations) in the last 10 years. The causes of population decline (overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution) are ongoing.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
Declining due to overfishing and habitat degradation.
Population Trend
Decreasing
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IUCN
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Threats
Threats
Major Threats
Over-fishing: extremely high mortalities of adults during spawning runs due to total blocking of rivers with gill nets and weirs as well as drifting gillnets. This prevents upstream migration in low rainfall years. Fish poisoning is widely practised although illegal. Deterioration of spawning grounds due to siltation from soil erosion (bad land practise as well as deforestation along rivers). Water abstraction for irrigation purposes during dry season hampers downstream movement of young fish.
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IUCN
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Endangered (EN) (A2bcd)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
One major river where this species breeds is the Bua river, which runs through the Nkhota Kota game reserve (Central Malawi). This is the only river where the spawning grounds are protected (as the surrounding woodlands are protected from deforestation). The headwaters of the North Rukuru river are also protected within the Nyika National Park — there is however increasing land clearance between the park and the spawning grounds. The Linthipe river, a major spawning river, is unprotected, receiving untreated effluent from Lilongwe. The status of 'mpasa' rivers in Tanzania and Mozambique is Unknown.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Eccles, D.H. 1992 FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. Prepared and published with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (project URT/87/016). FAO, Rome. 145 p. (Ref. 4967)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4967&speccode=11098
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Konings, A. 1990 Ad Konings's book of cichlids and all the other fishes of Lake Malawi. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, N.J., 495 p. (Ref. 5595)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5595&speccode=5238
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Source:
FishBase
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Wikipedia
Lake Salmon
The Lake Salmon (Opsaridium microlepis) is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater lakes.
Source
- Kazembe, J., Magombo, Z., Khawa, D. & Kaunda, E. 2005. Opsaridium microlepis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
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