Coptodon deckerti

Coptodon deckerti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Coptodon[2]
Species: C. deckerti
Binomial name
Coptodon deckerti
(Thys van den Audenaerde, 1967)

Coptodon deckerti is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),[1] although Ejagham is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.[3] A species of catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis has recently been introduced to the lake, and this probably presents a serious threat to the endemic cichlids.[4]

It was formerly recognized as the only cichlid endemic to Lake Ejagham, but six others were described in 2010 and 2011 (which has resulted in some historical confusion over its size and ecology).[4][5] It reaches up to about 10 cm (4 in) in standard length and closely resembles the larger C. nigrans.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Moelants, T. (2010). "Tilapia deckerti". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T21897A9337295. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T21897A9337295.en. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Dunz, A.R. & Schliewen, U.K. (2013): Molecular phylogeny and revised classification of the haplotilapiine cichlid fishes formerly referred to as “Tilapia”. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Available online 29 March 2013 doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.015
  3. ↑ Freeth, S.J.; C.O. Ofoegbu; and K.M. Onuoha (1992). Natural Hazards in West and Central Africa, pp. 50—51. ISBN 978-3-663-05239-5
  4. 1 2 3 Dunz, A. R., & Schliewen, U. K. (2010). Description of a Tilapia (Coptodon) species flock of Lake Ejagham (Cameroon), including a redescription of Tilapia deckerti Thys van den Audenaerde, 1967. Spixiana, 33(2): 251-280
  5. ↑ Neumann, D., Stiassny, M. L. J, & Schliewen, U. K. (2011). Two new sympatric Sarotherodon species (Pisces: Cichlidae) endemic to Lake Ejagham, Cameroon, west-central Africa, with comments on the Sarotherodon galilaeus species complex. Zootaxa 2765: 1–20


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