Neostethus thessa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neostethus thessa |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Phallostethidae |
| Genus: | Neostethus |
| Species: |
N. thessa
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| Binomial name | |
| Neostethus thessa (Aurich, 1937)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Neostethus thessa, also known as bolinao, is a special type of freshwater fish. It lives only in Lake Mainit in Mindanao, Philippines. This fish is quite unique! It belongs to a group called priapium fish. Sadly, the Neostethus thessa is an Endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. Its home, Lake Mainit, faces threats from pollution and new fish species that don't belong there.
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About the Bolinao Fish
The Neostethus thessa is a small fish. Males grow to about 2.6 cm (1.0 in) long. Females are a bit larger, reaching around 2.9 cm (1.1 in). These fish are usually clear or opaque gray in color. They swim together in groups, called schools. You can often see them feeding near the surface of the water.
What Makes Them Special?
Priapium fish, like the bolinao, have a very interesting feature. Male fish have a special organ under their "chin." This organ is made from changed fins. It helps them hold onto the female during mating. This way, the eggs are fertilized inside the female's body. After mating, the female fish lays her eggs. These eggs have sticky threads that help them attach to surfaces in the water.
Where the Bolinao Lives
The Neostethus thessa is an endemic species. This means it is found naturally in only one place in the world. For the bolinao, that special place is Lake Mainit. This lake is located in the northeastern part of Mindanao in the Philippines.
Why the Bolinao Needs Our Help
The Neostethus thessa is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is because its home, Lake Mainit, is facing many dangers.
Threats to Lake Mainit
Lake Mainit is not a very large lake. It covers about 173.40 km2 (66.95 sq mi). This small area makes the fish more vulnerable. Here are some of the main problems:
- Pollution: Waste from mining and farms flows into the lake. Trash from homes around the lake also adds to the pollution. This makes the water unhealthy for the fish.
- Invasive Species: New types of fish have been brought into Lake Mainit. These are called invasive species. They include the Nile tilapia and the Eurasian carp. These new fish compete with the bolinao for food and space. They can also eat the bolinao's eggs or young fish.
Bolinao as Food
Even though it is endangered, the Neostethus thessa is still caught for food. People use special fine-meshed nets to catch these small fish.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
