South African red data book - fishes

Abstract

Red data sheets are provided for 50 fish species from the continental waters of South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia. The species are arranged in four groups: endemic freshwater species, endemic estuarine species, marginal freshwater species and marginal estuarine species. Within these groups the species are listed alphabetically according to the established IUCN categories of endangered, vulnerable or rare. The red data sheets include a line drawing of each species as well as maps indicating the known distribution range of the species. Of the 24 endemic freshwater fishes seven are considered endangered, eight vulnerable and nine rare. Fifteen of these threatened fish occur in the Cape, five in the Transvaal, three in South West Africa/Namibia and one each in Natal (and Lesotho), and the Orange Free State (shared with the Transvaal, the Cape and Lesotho). In the endemic estuarine group there are three vulnerable species and five rare species, one of which is possibly safe. Two species are from the Cape, four from Natal and two from both the Cape and Natal. Twelve marginal freshwater species are listed, three vulnerable and nine rare. Two of these species are from South West Africa/Namibia, two from the Transvaal, four from Natal and four from both Natal and the Transvaal. In the marginal estuarine group there are six species, one endangered, two vulnerable and three rare. All these species occur in Natal