Lisbon arched-mouth nase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lisbon arched-mouth nase |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
| Genus: | Iberochondrostoma |
| Species: |
I. olisiponensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Iberochondrostoma olisiponensis (Gante, C. D. Santos & Alves, 2007)
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The Iberochondrostoma olisiponensis, also known as the Lisbon arched-mouth nase, is a type of freshwater fish. Scientists first found this fish in 2007. It lives in the lower part of the Rio Tejo (Tagus River) in Portugal.
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What Does the Lisbon Arched-Mouth Nase Look Like?
The Lisbon arched-mouth nase is a small fish. It belongs to the carp family. Adult fish are usually about 5 to 11 centimeters long. Some have been found to be around 18 centimeters long.
How to Identify This Fish
You can tell this fish apart from other similar fish in the Iberian Peninsula by a few key features:
- It does not have a hard, blade-like part on its lower jaw.
- Its fins do not have a strong reddish color at their base.
- It has a very curved, or "arched," mouth.
Its pelvic fins are long. They reach the anus, and in males, they often go past the anal fin. The dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins usually have 8 branched rays. This fish also has special grinding teeth that are bumpy, not smooth.
Comparing to Similar Fish
The Lisbon arched-mouth nase lives in the same area as a similar fish, the Iberochondrostoma lusitanicum. However, the Lisbon arched-mouth nase has:
- A taller body.
- A slightly longer head.
- Bigger eyes.
Its pelvic and pectoral fins are also longer. The last ray of its anal fin is longer too.
Differences Between Males and Females
Unlike some other related fish, the Lisbon arched-mouth nase shows differences between males and females. This is called sexual dimorphism. Males have longer pelvic fins. These fins extend past the anus and often overlap with the anal fin.
Where Did This Fish Come From?
Scientists used a method called a molecular clock to study this fish's history. They believe this species separated from its closest ancestor a long time ago. This happened about 7.9 to 12.5 million years ago. This time period is known as the middle to upper Miocene epoch. This was a time when many inland lakes and basins formed in the Iberian Peninsula.
Where Does the Lisbon Arched-Mouth Nase Live?
This fish is endemic to the lower Rio Tejo basin. This means it is only found in this specific area. It has only been found in three smaller rivers that flow into the Tejo River. These rivers are the Trancão, Maior, and Muge.
Why Is This Fish in Danger?
The Lisbon arched-mouth nase is very rare in the places where it lives. Also, its home is an area where humans have a big impact on water. This creates serious dangers for the fish's survival.
Threats to Its Survival
Some of the main threats to this fish include:
- Water extraction: A lot of water is taken from the rivers for farming.
- Exotic species: New types of fish or plants are brought into the area. These can compete with or harm the native fish.
- Water pollution: The water can become dirty from human activities.
- Land reclamation: Land near the rivers is changed or developed, which destroys the fish's habitat.
Because of these dangers, the Lisbon arched-mouth nase is listed as "Critically Endangered." This is a very serious category according to the IUCN. It means the fish faces an extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
 | Jewel Prestage |
 | Ella Baker |
 | Fannie Lou Hamer |
