Shiyuan Gong

Threatened fishes of the world: Leptobotia elongata Bleeker, 1870 (Bottiinae)

Common name: Elongate loach (English). Conservation status: “High vulnerability” in China (China red data book) (Cheung et al. 2005); “Endangered” in China Red Data book of Endangered Animals-Pisces (Yue and Chen 1998). Identification: A big freshwater and demersal fish in Bottiinae (maximum weight 3 kg and length 50 cm) (Nichols 1943; Liang and Hu 2001), slightly compressed body, tapering and compressed head, short snout, downturned mouth with horse’s hoof-shaped lips, barbels 3 pairs; fine scale fish; pectoral and pelvic fins short and bases with long skin folds. D. IV/8, A: III/5, P. I/12–13, V. I/8. Coloration: Body lightly grayish brown and with vertical or irregular band-like stripes of deeply brown; yellowish brown on head sides (Wang 1998). Figure from Lin and Zheng (2003). Distribution: Only distributed naturally in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Habit and ecology: It is a cryptic benthic fish and prefers to hide under rocks and macrophytes beds at day time, and moves around at night. As a carnivorous species, it feeds mainly on small fishes and aquatic invertebrates, such as small fishes, small shrimp and Copepoda community. Reproduction: Matures at 4–6 years (Liang and Hu 2001) and is thought to be a reproductively fluvial fish. Mature adults migrate upstream to breed in the shallow beaches and fast currents in late February, spawn from March to May and the roe is viscous and sticks to rocks. Threats: Dramatic population declines in recent decades because of over-fishing, dam construction, water pollution and other anthropogenic impacts (Liang et al. 2004). Conservation actions: Hatchery programs and culture techniques by several national institutes and private agencies have released hatchery reared juveniles into natural river systems. Conservation recommendation: Actions should be taken to improve water quality. Improve hatchery success rate and the survival from artificial propagation; on-site conservation and restriction of fishing. Environ Biol Fish (2010) 87:295–296 DOI 10.1007/s10641-010-9582-4

Threatened fishes of the world: Leptobotia elongata

Common name: Elongate loach (English). Conservation status: Endangered—China Species Red List (Yue and Chen 1998). Not evaluated yet on IUCN red list. Identification: A maximal sized spices of Cobitidae (max. 420 mm TL). D. IV/8, A. III/5, P.I/ 12-13, V.I/8 (Chen 1980). Elongate and compressed body, subinferior and horseshoe mouth, thick lips without button-like papilla on cheek, barbells 3 pairs, eyes small, scales minute. Dorsal fin located in posterior section of body, caudal fin deeply forked (Yue and Chen 1998). Body color lightly grayish brown and with 5–8 vertical band-like stripes of deeply brown. Figure from Meng et al. (1989). Distribution: Endemic to the middle and upper reaches of Changjiang (Yangtze) River System (Chen 1980). Abundance: Historically abundant and commercially important, however, there has been a marked decrease in population in recent years, with natural stock unknown as yet (Liang et al. 2004). Habitat and ecology: A typical kind of bottom fish, living in swift-flowing of the upper and middle streams of rivers or mountain streams. Feeds on small fishes or fry. Reproduction: Spawning period from March to May, with pelagic eggs (1.50–1.66 mm in diameter). Fecundity ranged from 11 688 to 30 900 with mean of 19 206. Relative fecundity 33.8 to 47.8 eggs per gram body weight (Liang et al. 2000). Threats: With water and soil erosion, dam construction, as well as pollution, destructions of the spawning environment and habitat have occurred in recent years. Overfishing not only reduced elongated loach population, but also resulted in great decreases of food of Leptobotia elongata. Conservation action: No specific action has been adopted yet. Conservation recommendations: Protect the ecological environment of natural condition for habitat and spawning. Additionally, biological investigation on population ecology, reproductions and habitat are necessary. Environ Biol Fish (2009) 85:287–288 DOI 10.1007/s10641-009-9500-9

Threatened fishes of the world: Coreius septentrionalis (Nichols, 1925) (Cyprinidae)

Common name: Pigeon fish (Chinese). Conservation status: Threatened in China Red Data Book (Yue and Chen 1998) and China Species Red List (Wang and Xie 2004). Identification: A freshwater fish; long cylindrical body, small and slightly flattened head, horseshoe-shaped mouth with sharp and prominent lips, a pair of rough long barbels, small round eyes with red iris (Li 1990). Lateral line scales 55–56, D: 3, 7; P: 1, 18; V: 1, 7; A: 3, 6 (Wu et al. 1964). This illustration is from Chinese Cyprinidae Records (Wu et al. 1964). Distribution: Only found in the Yellow River in China. Habitat and ecology: Lives in the middle layer of the river, where the water flow is moderate and with a lot of gravel on the substrate (Peng 2007). Reproduction: Mature adults migrate upstream to breed in the spawning grounds in areas with fast currents in May to July. Threats: Populations have declined seriously due to overfishing and water pollution (Li 1990). Conservation action: No specific action has been adopted for this fish. Conservation recommendation: Water pollution should be controlled; spring fishing prohibition period should be adopted; artificial breeding and hatching should be attempted; and protection of fish resources should be progressively achieved.