Patterns of distribution and conservation status of freshwater fishes in South Africa

Abstract

The combined fish collection databases of the Albany Museum and the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology are used to identify hotspots of endemism and threatened fish distributions. Hotspots of fish species richness occur in the NE lowveld sectors and along the ecotone between the tropical subtropical and temperate faunal zones. Hotspots of endemic fish richness and of threatened taxa occur within both the tropical and temperate faunal regions, notably in the Olifants River system (Western Cape) and in areas of high relief such as the Cape Fold Mountains, the Amatola-Winterberg (Eastern Cape), and the Drakensberg Escarpment (Kwazulu/Natal-Eastern Transvaal). The survival of the fauna depends on the success of river catchment conservation management. The value of museum collections in identifying areas of conservation concern is emphasized. -from Authors