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Luciobarbus sclateri in Arroyo Letur (Spain), by José Manuel Zamora (Dpto. de Zoología, UM)

ISSN 2386-8228

DOI 10.29094/FiSHMED

Distribution and demography of the critically endangered Lisbon arched-mouth nase, Iberochondrostoma olisiponense

Ana Veríssimo, Hugo F. Gante, Carlos D. Santos , Gisela Cheoo, João M. Oliveira, Rui Cereja, Filipe Ribeiro

FiSHMED 2018.002: 13p

Abstract : The Lisbon arched-mouth nase, Iberochondrostoma olisiponense, is a cyprinid fish endemic to the lowlands of the Tagus drainage (Portugal, Iberian Peninsula). Originally described as Chondrostoma olisiponensis about one decade ago, the species lacks national conservation status despite its classification as critically endangered (CR) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Threat level was based on evidence of decreasing population size and a contraction of the species’ distribution area. In an effort to provide a robust assessment of the current distribution of I. olisiponense, we performed a comprehensive survey of 19 tributaries in the lower Tagus and its main channel between late 2015 and late 2016, totaling 87 unique sites. Species presence was confirmed only at two of the tributaries with previous records (Muge and Trancão), and two new population nuclei were detected at Cabanas and at the Tagus main stem. Evidence of successful recruitment was found at Muge and Trancão only. On the other hand, extensive sampling at tributaries with previous species’ occurrence (Rio Maior, Magos and Ulme) proved unsuccessful in detecting I. olisiponense, suggesting that the species has been extirpated there. These results extend the species’ previously known distribution area but also sug-gest contemporary local extinctions. Further research and conservation efforts are thus urgently needed to monitor the extant populations and unveil the species’ habitat requirements, biology, and genetic parameters of diversity and structure.

Keywords : Boga-de-boca-arqueada de Lisboa, conservation, distribution, de-mography, lowland, Portugal, Chondrostoma olisiponensis

Citation : Veríssimo A, Gante HF, Santos CD , Cheoo G, Oliveira JM, Cereja R, Ribeiro F (2018) Distribution and demography of the critically endangered Lisbon arched-mouth nase, Iberochondrostoma olisiponense. Fishes in Mediterranean Environments 2018.002: 13p. https://doi.org/10.29094/FiSHMED.2018.002

Article first published online : 5 July 2018

FiSHMED is an international scientific journal edited by 
the Iberian Society of Ichthyology – SIBIC

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