NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS FOR CLARIAS THEODORAE WEBER 1897, BARBUS EUTAENIA BOULENGER 1904, BARBUS POLYLEPIS BOULENGER 1907 AND OPSARIDIUM ZAMBEZENSE (PETERS 1852) FROM THE WATERBERG, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

Abstract

New distribution records for four fish species in the Waterberg mountains of the Transvaal were established during surveys since 1987–92. Clarias theodorae was previously reported from one locality each in the Waterberg and Soutpansberg. The current survey disclosed its presence at an additional 11 localities. In the Transvaal Opsaridium zambezense was previously only known from the eastern parts of the Province. The current survey revealed its presence at one locality in the Waterberg. Clarias theodorae and Opsaridium zambezense are regarded as threatened in South Africa. Barbus eutaenia (two populations in the Waterberg) and B. polylepis (one population in the Waterberg) have relatively wide distributions in the Transvaal but their presence in the Waterberg represent comparatively unique, isolated populations. All four species were only found in relatively small numbers. Droughts during the nineteen eighties, and a concurrent increase in farm weir construction and water abstraction, jeopardise the survival of these small fish populations. Extreme drought conditions during 1991/92 have exacerbated adverse conditions for fish survival even further due to a general cessation of stream flow.