World's smallest fish discovered in Sumatra
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World's smallest fish discovered in Sumatra
Not a loach...
Researchers have found the smallest known fish on record in the peat swamps of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Individuals of the Paedocypris genus can be just 7.9mm long at maturity, scientists write in a journal published by the UK's Royal Society.
But they warn long-term prospects for the fish are poor, because of rapid destruction of Indonesian peat swamps.
The fish have to survive in extreme habitats - pools of acid water in a tropical forest swamp.
Food is scarce but the Paedocypris - smaller than other fish by a few tenths of a millimetre - can sustain their small bodies grazing on plankton near the bottom of the water.
Human threat
To keep their size down, the fish have abandoned many of the attributes of adulthood - a characteristic hinted at in their name.
Their brain, for example, lacks bony protection and the females have room to carry just a few eggs.
The males have a little clasp underneath that might help them fertilize eggs individually.
Being so small, the fish can live through even extreme drought, by seeking refuge in the last puddles of the swamp; but they are now threatened by humans.
Widespread forest destruction, drainage of the peat swamps for palm oil plantations and persistent fires are destroying their habitat.
Science may have discovered Paedocypris just in time - but many of their miniature relatives may already have been wiped out.
Researchers have found the smallest known fish on record in the peat swamps of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Individuals of the Paedocypris genus can be just 7.9mm long at maturity, scientists write in a journal published by the UK's Royal Society.
But they warn long-term prospects for the fish are poor, because of rapid destruction of Indonesian peat swamps.
The fish have to survive in extreme habitats - pools of acid water in a tropical forest swamp.
Food is scarce but the Paedocypris - smaller than other fish by a few tenths of a millimetre - can sustain their small bodies grazing on plankton near the bottom of the water.
Human threat
To keep their size down, the fish have abandoned many of the attributes of adulthood - a characteristic hinted at in their name.
Their brain, for example, lacks bony protection and the females have room to carry just a few eggs.
The males have a little clasp underneath that might help them fertilize eggs individually.
Being so small, the fish can live through even extreme drought, by seeking refuge in the last puddles of the swamp; but they are now threatened by humans.
Widespread forest destruction, drainage of the peat swamps for palm oil plantations and persistent fires are destroying their habitat.
Science may have discovered Paedocypris just in time - but many of their miniature relatives may already have been wiped out.
Your vantage point determines what you can see.
- Graeme Robson
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Interesting situation this in terms of the consetrvation of the spp, habitat etc...
Such a find provides an international conservation interest in what was i'm sure an area/habitat of little social/aesthetic/economic interest, thus was a highly endangered habitat. Peat bogs/swamps are always a hard sell. This fish may provide some political gumption to their management and protection.
A problem may be now that this fish is famous and there is great interest in it, unscrupulous collectors for an industry which is often irresponsible may overcollect and further deplete this species. (note the word "often"... i'm implying no improper activites among the members of LOL and have been only impressed by related views expressed, ie: cave boita in Vietnam etc...)
Double edged sword.
I believe in the pets industry as a tool for conservation of biodiversity, as private collectors are often more dedicated and better funded then public universities and zoos, and particulary better then the often 3d world local governemnts/NGOs etc... usually tasked with protection of these habitats/species.
If these things show up on your supplier's lists
1) if they are protected and illegal in Sumatra or CITES, please report the collector/supplier.
2) becoming illegal in a place like Sumatra will likley be a long process subject to all sorts of pressures including logging and development interests. If they show up on the lists then the demand is there so collections WILL occur. As a dedicated collector you've got a couple of choices which may be arguably more or less envrionmnentally responsible: choose not to buy the fish and tell all collectors on all forums (fora?) to do the same or ... recognize that the habitat may be on it's way out, as will be the species (research being the key here). In this one may accept a reponsibility to maintain the genotype/biodiversity... and dedicate their fish husbandry knowledge to breeding and maintaining the animals ex-situ... with fingers crossed that the habitat may be saved/replaced in time. Thus the animal will still exist for re-introduction.
I still have my fingers crossed teh the giant gulliwas (large endemic lizard thought to be extinct due to mongoose predation) still exists in the underground pets industry somewhere.
Note my ongoing interest in stirring the pot and generating debate among bright and interested folk.... Please tell me if i'm right or wrong.
Andyroo
Such a find provides an international conservation interest in what was i'm sure an area/habitat of little social/aesthetic/economic interest, thus was a highly endangered habitat. Peat bogs/swamps are always a hard sell. This fish may provide some political gumption to their management and protection.
A problem may be now that this fish is famous and there is great interest in it, unscrupulous collectors for an industry which is often irresponsible may overcollect and further deplete this species. (note the word "often"... i'm implying no improper activites among the members of LOL and have been only impressed by related views expressed, ie: cave boita in Vietnam etc...)
Double edged sword.
I believe in the pets industry as a tool for conservation of biodiversity, as private collectors are often more dedicated and better funded then public universities and zoos, and particulary better then the often 3d world local governemnts/NGOs etc... usually tasked with protection of these habitats/species.
If these things show up on your supplier's lists
1) if they are protected and illegal in Sumatra or CITES, please report the collector/supplier.
2) becoming illegal in a place like Sumatra will likley be a long process subject to all sorts of pressures including logging and development interests. If they show up on the lists then the demand is there so collections WILL occur. As a dedicated collector you've got a couple of choices which may be arguably more or less envrionmnentally responsible: choose not to buy the fish and tell all collectors on all forums (fora?) to do the same or ... recognize that the habitat may be on it's way out, as will be the species (research being the key here). In this one may accept a reponsibility to maintain the genotype/biodiversity... and dedicate their fish husbandry knowledge to breeding and maintaining the animals ex-situ... with fingers crossed that the habitat may be saved/replaced in time. Thus the animal will still exist for re-introduction.
I still have my fingers crossed teh the giant gulliwas (large endemic lizard thought to be extinct due to mongoose predation) still exists in the underground pets industry somewhere.
Note my ongoing interest in stirring the pot and generating debate among bright and interested folk.... Please tell me if i'm right or wrong.
Andyroo
"I can eat 50 eggs !"
- Graeme Robson
- Posts: 9096
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:34 am
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 14252
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:41 pm
- Location: British Columbia
- Graeme Robson
- Posts: 9096
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:34 am
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
- Bagrus dude
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- Graeme Robson
- Posts: 9096
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:34 am
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
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