Valencia toothcarp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Valencia toothcarp |
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The Valencia toothcarp, also known as Valencia hispanica or samaruc (in Valencian), is a small freshwater fish. It belongs to the Valenciidae family. This special fish is found only in certain parts of southern Catalonia and the Valencian Community in Spain. Long ago, it was also seen near Perpignan, France, but it no longer lives there.
This fish makes its home in places like marshes, freshwater springs, and coastal lagoons. It also lives in acequias, which are small canals used for irrigation. Sadly, the Valencia toothcarp is in danger because of pollution and the loss of its natural living spaces.
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About the Valencia Toothcarp
What Does It Look Like?
Valencia toothcarps are usually light brown to yellow. Adult males are about 4 to 8 centimeters long. You can tell them apart from females by the orange edges on their fins. Females are a bit bigger than males. These fish like to be together and often swim in small groups called shoals.
What Does It Eat?
The Valencia toothcarp is a carnivorous fish. This means it eats other small creatures. Its diet mainly includes insects, their larvae, and worms.
Why Is the Samaruc in Danger?
The Valencia toothcarp is listed as an endangered species. Both the Spanish government and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) say it's at high risk. Its numbers have dropped a lot over the years.
Losing Their Homes
One big reason for their decline is land reclamation. This happened a lot in Valencia during the 1980s. People filled in wetlands to build more areas, especially because of a boom in tourism. This meant the fish lost many of their natural homes.
Pollution and New Neighbors
More people living in the area also led to more pollution. This made the water unhealthy for the fish. Another problem is introduced species. These are new types of animals or plants brought into an area. Sometimes, these new species compete with the toothcarp for food or eat them, causing their numbers to drop even more.
Helping the Samaruc
Good news! There's a special program to help the Valencia toothcarp. The Valencian regional government is leading this effort. They are working to protect the fish and even reintroduce them into areas where they used to live. The goal is to stop their numbers from falling further and help them recover.
