Myaka (fish)

The myaka (Myaka myaka) is a critically endangered species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. It prefers open, deeper waters where it feeds on phytoplankton and small insects, only venturing into shallower waters to spawn. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) SL. It is currently the only known species in its genus,[2] but it is very close to Sarotherodon.[3] The myika is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),[1] although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.[4] Konia, Pungu and Stomatepia are three other equally threatened genera of ciclids that also are endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo.

Myaka

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe: Oreochromini
Genus: Myaka
Species:
M. myaka
Binomial name
Myaka myaka
Trewavas, 1972

References
  1. Moelants, T. (2010). "Myaka myaka". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T14034A4385592. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T14034A4385592.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Myaka myaka" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
  3. Martin; Cutler; Friel; Touokong; Coop; and Wainwright (2015). Complex histories of repeated gene flow in Cameroon crater lake cichlids cast doubt on one of the clearest examples of sympatric speciation. Evolution 69-6: 1406–1422. doi:10.1111/evo.12674
  4. Freeth, S.J.; C.O. Ofoegbu; and K.M. Onuoha (1992). Natural Hazards in West and Central Africa, pp. 50—51. ISBN 978-3-663-05239-5


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.