The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T18474A8324375
Pseudobarbus phlegethon, Fiery Redfin
Assessment by: Swartz, E. & Impson, D.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Swartz, E. & Impson, D. 2007. Pseudobarbus phlegethon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2007: e.T18474A8324375.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Cypriniformes
Cyprinidae
Taxon Name: Pseudobarbus phlegethon (Barnard, 1938)
Synonym(s):
• Barbus phlegethon
Common Name(s):
• English:
Fiery Redfin
Taxonomic Notes:
This lineage can be distinguished from the Doring lineage with allozyme loci and it does not share
mitochondrial DNA alleles. In addition there are consistant colour pattern differences. However, no
formal description of subspecies has been done to date.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) ver 3.1
Year Published:
2007
Date Assessed:
March 1, 2007
Justification:
Over the last 70 years the Jan Dissels population that forms part of the Olifants lineage has progressively
declined to extinction. However, the major decline occurred during the initial establishment of alien
invasive largemouth and smallmouth bass in the 1930s and 1940s. A small area of the lower
Noordhoeks River has been lost due to water extraction. However, the recent decline does not qualify
listing under criterion A. Extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 5,000 km². Actual area of occupancy is
about 0.072 km² calculated for the Oudste (1 km), Thee (4 km), Noordhoeks (6 km), Boskloof (3 km) and
Rondegat (10 km). Three locations are known: the Rondegat; Boskloof (both with barriers to alien
species); and Oudste, Thee and Noorhoeks (without barriers and therefore considered together as one
location). The populations are severely fragmented due to the introduction of alien fishes, but each of
the populations, with the possible exception of the Oudste population, is large enough to survive
without the need for immigration. The species therefore qualifies for Endangered under criteria
B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2a(ii,iii,v).
Previously Published Red List Assessments
1996 – Endangered (EN)
1994 – Endangered (E)
1990 – Endangered (E)
1988 – Endangered (E)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
1
1986 – Endangered (E)
Geographic Range
Range Description:
Occurs in the Oudste, Thee, Noordhoeks, Boskloof and Rondegat tributaries of the Olifants River system
on the western side of the Cederberg Mountains (Bills 1999, Swartz 2000, Swartz 2004).
Country Occurrence:
Native: South Africa (Western Cape)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
2
Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
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Population
No information is available on population trends.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
They prefer cobble habitat in the lower reaches of tributary streams, with moderate flow. Clear sexual
dimorphism exists and males have bright red fins in the breeding season and defend territories (Skelton
1988).
Systems: Freshwater
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Alien invasive fish species have reduced their range significantly. There must have been a rapid and
major reduction in their range soon after the introduction of especially Micropterus dolomieu in the
1940s. Unsustainable water extraction is also a major threat, especially where the lower reaches of
tributary streams are affected. This lineage has gone extinct in the Jan Dissels River, a major tributary of
the Olifants River and are no longer found in mainstream areas where they probably occurred before
the introduction of alien fishes.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
A river rehabilitation project is planned for the Rondegat River that will significantly increase the size of
that population.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Swartz, E. & Impson, D.
Reviewer(s):
Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater
Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
4
Bibliography
Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (eds). 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. pp. 378.
International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Bills, R. 1999. Biology and conservation status of the Clanwilliam rock catfish and spotted rock catfish.
Investigational Report no. 60. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown.
Groombridge, B. (ed.). 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and
Cambridge, UK.
IUCN. 1990. IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed:
12th September 2007).
IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1986. 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Skelton, P.H. 2001. A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape
Town, South Africa.
Swartz, E.R. 2000. Population genetics of Pseudobarbus phlegethon, Barbus calidus and B. erubescens
(Teleostei: Cyprinidae) of the Olifants River System, Western Cape. University of Stellenbosch,
Stellenbosch.
Swartz, E.R., Flemming, A.F. and Mouton, P. le F.N. 2004. Contrasting genetic patterns and population
histories in three threatened redfin species (Cyprinidae) from the Olifants River System, western South
Africa. Journal of Fish Biology 64: 1153-1167.
Citation
Swartz, E. & Impson, D. 2007. Pseudobarbus phlegethon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007:
e.T18474A8324375. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.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: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
5
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
-
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->
8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.1.
Unspecified species
Ongoing
-
-
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
2. Species Stresses -> 2.3. Indirect species effects ->
2.3.2. Competition
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->
8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.2.
Named species (Micropterus dolomieu)
9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents ->
9.3.2. Soil erosion, sedimentation
9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents ->
9.3.4. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
-
-
-
-
-
-
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
2. Land/water management -> 2.3. Habitat & natural process restoration
3. Species management -> 3.2. Species recovery
4. Education & awareness -> 4.1. Formal education
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
6
Conservation Actions Needed
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.2. National level
5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.3. Sub-national level
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
0. Root -> 100.1. OLD 1.1.1-Policy-base actions->Management plans->Development
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.6. Actions
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pseudobarbus phlegethon – published in 2007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T18474A8324375.en
7
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™