The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T169408A6619779
Protopterus annectens, African Lungfish
Assessment by: Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & Contreras-MacBeath, T.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & Contreras-MacBeath, T. 2009. Protopterus annectens. The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species 2009: e.T169408A6619779. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20092.RLTS.T169408A6619779.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Sarcopterygii
Lepidosireniformes
Protopteridae
Taxon Name: Protopterus annectens (Owen, 1839)
Synonym(s):
• Lepidosiren annectens
• Lepidosiren tobal
• Protopterus anguilliformis
Regional Assessments:
• Eastern Africa
Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:
• Protopterus annectens ssp. annectens
• Protopterus annectens ssp. brieni
Common Name(s):
• English:
African Lungfish, Lungfish, Mudfish, Tana Lungfish, West African Lungfish
Taxonomic Notes:
Two subspecies are known - P. a. annectens and P. a. brieni.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2009
Date Assessed:
March 1, 2007
Justification:
P. annectens has been assessed as Least Concern because it has a very large range, and there are no
known widespread threats to the species.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
P. a. annectens is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire,
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo; this subspecies
is found in, but not limited to, the Volta, Chad, Bandama and Comoé basins, and temporary tributaries
of Chari River.
P. a. brieni is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; this sub-species is distributed throughout the upper Congo River (Luapula), middle and
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Protopterus annectens – published in 2009.
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lower Zambezi basin and all east coast rivers south to the Limpopo River, the upper Cubango and
Okavango system and Lake Rukwa. This subspecies has also been translocated to additional sites in the
Kruger National Park in South Africa (Ref. 7248).
Country Occurrence:
Native: Angola (Angola); Benin; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo, The
Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique;
Niger; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Introduced: South Africa
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Protopterus annectens – published in 2009.
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Population
Currently, there is a lack of detailed population numbers and the global trend is unknown.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
P. annectens is a demersal and potamodromous (migrates within fresh water only) species, found in
marginal swamps and backwaters of rivers and lakes. It normally lives on flood plains, and when these
dry up it secretes a thin slime around itself which dries into a cocoon.
Systems: Freshwater
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is of minor importance to commercial fisheries. A large amount of scientific research has
been carried out on the species. It is assumed that some specimens are bred in captivity for research
purposes, however the proportion of research/food utilisation is not known therefore a 50/50 ratio is
assumed.
Threats
There are no threats known to be currently affecting this species.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
Regional red listing for West Africa is Least Concern.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & Contreras-MacBeath, T.
Reviewer(s):
Collen, B., Darwall, W., Ram, M. & Smith, K. (SRLI Freshwater Fish Evaluation
Workshop)
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Citation
Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & Contreras-MacBeath, T. 2009. Protopterus annectens. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2009: e.T169408A6619779. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20092.RLTS.T169408A6619779.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Protopterus annectens – published in 2009.
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11
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.1. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent
Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)
-
Suitable
-
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.2. Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks
-
Suitable
-
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.5. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater
Lakes (over 8ha)
-
Suitable
-
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.6. Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent
Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)
-
Suitable
-
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.8. Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent
Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)
-
Suitable
-
Use and Trade
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
End Use
Local
National
International
Food - human
Yes
Yes
No
Research
No
No
Yes
Establishing ex-situ production *
No
No
No
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Education
Included in international legislation: Yes
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Protopterus annectens – published in 2009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169408A6619779.en
12
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
3. Monitoring -> 3.2. Harvest level trends
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 14798631
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
Habitats and Ecology
Movement patterns: Full Migrant
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Protopterus annectens – published in 2009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169408A6619779.en
13
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