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Malolotja Nature Reserve - Fauna - Fishes

(Information adapted from "Birds of the Malolotja Nature Reserve, Swaziland", by Richard Boycott and Vincent Parker, 2003.)

Malolotja provides important protected habitat for a variety of freshwater fish, including several regionally important species, such as the Incomati Rock Catlet (Chiloglanis bifurcus), Pongolo Rock Catlet (Chiloglanis emarginatus), Southern Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus philander) and Stargazer Mountain Catfish (Amphilius uranoscopus). Fifteen species of fish have been confirmed, ten from the Nkomati River. Five of southern Africa's six endemic rock cadets (Chiloglanis spp.) have been recorded from the streams and rivers in Malolotja and it is likely that the sixth species will also be found in the reserve as it has been recorded in the Nkomati River, upstream from Malolotja, in Songimvelo Game Reserve. In the headwater streams of the Malolotja River the Pennanttailed Rock Catlet (Chiloglanis anoterus) occurs and is separated ecologically from other species of catlets by the Malolotja Falls. It also occurs in the headwater streams of the Black Mbuluzi River above the Hawana Falls (Boycott et al. in prep.).

Malolotja Fishes Checklist


Priority Species

(Information from "Threatened Vertebrates of Swaziland", by A Monadjem, R C Boycott, V Parker and J Culverwell, 2003.)

Critically Endangered


Mochokidae (Squeakers, suckermouth catlets)

Chiloglanis bifurcus  Jubb and Le Roux 1969
   (Incomati suckermouth/rock catlet)
   Swaziland Status: Critically Endangered
   Southern African Red Data Status: Critically Endangered
   International Red Data Status: Critically Endangered

Cichlidae (Cichlids)

Astatotilapia brevis  (Jubb 1968)
   (Orange fringed largemouth)
   Swaziland Status: Critically Endangered
   Southern African Red Data Status: Vulnerable
   International Red Data Status: Vulnerable

Endangered


Cyprinidae (Barbs, yellowfish, labeos)

Barbus brevipennis  Jubb 1966
   (Shortfin barb)
   Swaziland Status: Endangered
   Southern African Red Data Status: Vulnerable
   International Red Data Status: Vulnerable

Near Threatened


Cyprinidae (Barbs, yellowfish, labeos)

Barbus polylepis  Boulenger 1907
   (Smallscale yellowfish)
   Swaziland Status: Near threatened
   Southern African Red Data Status: Not listed
   International Red Data Status: Not listed

Varicorhinus nelspruitensis  Gilchrist and Thompson 1911
   (Incomati chiselmouth)
   Swaziland Status: Near threatened
   Southern African Red Data Status: Not listed
   International Red Data Status: Not listed



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