The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2019: T21571A90979994
Scope: Global
Language: English

Telmatherina abendanoni
Assessment by: Lumbantobing, D.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Lumbantobing, D. 2019. Telmatherina abendanoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2019: e.T21571A90979994. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-
2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii Atheriniformes Telmatherinidae

Taxon Name:  Telmatherina abendanoni Weber, 1913

Taxonomic Source(s):
Kottelat, M. 2013. The fishes of the inland waters of southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibiography of
the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
Supplement No. 27: 1-663.

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published: 2019

Date Assessed: June 29, 2018

Justification:
The species is listed as Near Threatened on the basis of its restricted range of distribution along the
inshore habitats of Lake Matano (with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 180 km2 and an area of
occupancy (AOO) of 172 km2) as well as the presence of multiple ongoing threats to the species,
especially the widespread invasive Flowerhorn Cichlid (Cichlasoma trimaculatum and its hybrids) that is
likely causing an ongoing decline in the number of subpopulations and mature individuals. Also, another
major threat is the high level of sedimentation that is causing a decline in the habitat quality. The
number of locations could not be estimated for this species due to a lack of precise information on the
species distribution and how subpopulations of the species would be affected by the numerous threats.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

1996 – Vulnerable (VU)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T21571A9301580.en

1994 – Vulnerable (V)

1990 – Vulnerable (V)

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species occurs in Lake Matano in the Malili Lakes system in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Indonesia (Sulawesi)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en
Distribution Map
Telmatherina abendanoni

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 2
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Population
During a recent field survey, this species was rarely encountered (D. Lumbantobing pers. obs. 2018).
Current Population Trend:  Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This species occurs only in Lake Matano. Like other Telmatherina species, T. abendanoni is a substrate
spawner and does not show parental care (Gray and McKinnon 2006). This species is distinguished from
other Telmatherina species in Lake Matano by its greater length, which can reach 68.6 mm SL, and very
short gill rakers. It has a large, slender and predatory body shape and does not show colour
polymorphism (Kottelat et al. 1993).

Systems:  Freshwater

Use and Trade

The local people in the areas surrounding Lake Matano prefer to harvest the large-sized 'Butini' goby
(Glossogobiu matanensis) for consumption and do not harvest telmatherinid fishes in the lake (Samuel
et al. 2009; D. Lumbantobing pers. obs. 2018).

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

The major threats to freshwater fishes within the Malili Lakes system are from surface mining, logging,
increasing urbanisation and the modification of waterways from hydropower installations, as well as
from the introduction of exotic species. Logging and mining activities impact water turbidity that will
influence the hatching of Telmatherina eggs that attach to aquatic plants and stone substrates (Nasution
2017). Substantial parts of Soroako, near Lake Matano, have been cleared and opened to surface
mining, while waste and sewage from the local settlement are entering the lakes waters (Herder et al.
2006). There are an estimated 14 invasive species of fish within Lake Matano, including the 'Flowerhorn'
Cichlid, a man-made hybrid species. Stomach contents of this invasive species contained fish remains
that were most likely from a Telmatherina species (Herder et al. 2012).

Conservation Actions
Large parts of the range of this species are within protected areas. These areas comprise the waterbody
of Lake Matano with a status of Nature Park (Taman Wisata Alam) administered by the Conservation
Forest Management Unit of Towuti (KPHK Towuti) and a large portion of the land areas surrounding the
lake with a status of Protected Forest (Hutan Lindung) administered by the Protection Forest
Management Unit of Larona Malili (KPHL Larona Malili). Despite the status of these areas for
conservation and protection, implementation of a strict regulation that incorporates a zonation system
sustainably managed for various human activities alongside nature conservation programmes, seems
very limited if not lacking throughout Lake Matano.

Credits
Assessor(s): Lumbantobing, D.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 3
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en
Reviewer(s): Raghavan, R.

Facilitators(s) and Palmer-Newton, A.

Compiler(s):

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 4
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Bibliography
Gray, S.M. and McKinnon, J.S. 2006. A comparative description of mating behaviour in the endemic
telmatherinid fishes of Sulawesi’s Malili Lakes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 75(4): 471-482.

Groombridge, B. (ed.). 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and
Cambridge, UK.

Herder, F., Schliewen, U.K., Geiger, M.F., Hadiaty, R.K., Gray, S.M., McKinnon, J.S., Walter, R.P. and
Pfaender, J. 2012. Alien invasion in Wallace's Dreamponds: records of the hybridogenic" flowerhorn"
cichlid in Lake Matano, with an annotated checklist of fish species introduced to the Malili Lakes system
in Sulawesi. Aquatic Invasions 7(4).

Herder, F., Schwarzer, J., Pfaender, J., Hadiaty, R.K. and Schliewen, U.K. 2006. Preliminary checklist of
sailfin silversides (Teleostei: Telmatherinidae) in the Malili Lakes of Sulawesi (Indonesia), with a synopsis
of systematics and threats. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fur Icthyologie Bd. 5: 139-163.

IUCN. 1990. IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 04 July 2019).

Kottelat, M., Whitten, A.J., Kartikasari, S.N. and Wirjoatmodjo, S. 1993. Freshwater fishes of Western
Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong.

Nasution, S.H. 2017. Biodiversity and conservation of endemic fish species in some lakes of Sulawesi. In:
M. Maghfiroh, A. Dianto, T. Jasalesmana, I. Melati, O. Smir and R. Kurniawan (eds), Proceedings of the
16th World Lake Conference. Lake Ecosystem Health and Its Resilience: Diversity and Risks of Extinction.
November 7-11th 2016., pp. 341-346. Research Center for Limnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences.

Samuel, S., Husnah, H. and Makmur, S. 2009. Perikanan tangkap di Danau Matano, Mahalona, dan
Towuti, Sulawesi Selatan. Jurnal Penelitian Perikanan Indonesia 15(2): 123-131.

Citation
Lumbantobing, D. 2019. Telmatherina abendanoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019:
e.T21571A90979994. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.5. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Resident Suitable Yes
Lakes (over 8ha)

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.2. Dams & water Ongoing - - -

management/use -> 7.2.11. Dams (size unknown)
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing - - -

diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien
species/diseases -> 8.1.1. Unspecified species
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
2. Species Stresses -> 2.2. Species disturbance

9. Pollution -> 9.1. Domestic & urban waste water -> Ongoing - - -
9.1.1. Sewage
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.2. Industrial & military effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.2.2. Seepage from mining
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.3.2. Soil erosion, sedimentation
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (km²): 172

Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 180

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 6
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 Population
Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes

Continuing decline in subpopulations: Yes

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Telmatherina abendanoni – published in 2019. 7
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T21571A90979994.en
The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™