Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Hemibagrus punctatus (Hemibagrus punctatus), recorded as Critically Endangered
Hemibagrus punctatus (Hemibagrus punctatus). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Hemibagrus punctatus

Hemibagrus punctatus

Hemibagrus punctatus is a ray-finned fish in the family Bagridae (order Siluriformes), recorded as Critically Endangered.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Hemibagrus punctatus
Taxonomy
Siluriformes · Bagridae · Hemibagrus

The ray-finned fish

It was first described by Jerdon in 1849.

Range and habitat

It is endemic to east-flowing rivers in the Western Ghats of India. Of these, the species is likely only found in the Kaveri River. Records from the Krishna River may actually be of H. Maydelli. Even so, one record from the west-flowing Bharatappuzha River has been tentatively assigned to this species.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

The last record of this species was in 1998, and it may have experienced a population decline of nearly 100%. Thus, IUCN categorizes the species as critically endangered (possibly extinct). It is threatened by habitat degradation by excess siltation, excess fishing, and dam construction. Even so, based on several specimens caught by fishermen between 2011 and 2012 that likely belong to this species, as well as testimonies from local fishers, moderate populations of this species may still be extant in the region.

Hemibagrus punctatus is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Hemibagrus punctatus, Wikidata item Q6412556. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

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Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
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Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

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Quick answers

What is Hemibagrus punctatus?
Hemibagrus punctatus is a ray-finned fish in the family Bagridae (order Siluriformes).
What is the conservation status of Hemibagrus punctatus?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Hemibagrus punctatus. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Hemibagrus punctatus live?
It is endemic to east-flowing rivers in the Western Ghats of India.
Why is Hemibagrus punctatus in crisis?
The last record of this species was in 1998, and it may have experienced a population decline of nearly 100%. Thus, IUCN categorizes the species as critically endangered (possibly extinct).
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Hemibagrus punctatus?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Hemibagrus punctatus a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.