The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T172499A6904220

Garra periyarensis, Periyar Stone Sucker

Assessment by: Ali, A. & Raghavan, R.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Ali, A. & Raghavan, R. 2013. Garra periyarensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2013: e.T172499A6904220. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

Taxonomy
Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Animalia

Chordata

Actinopterygii

Cypriniformes

Cyprinidae

Taxon Name:Garra periyarensis Gopi, 2001

Common Name(s):
English:

Periyar Stone Sucker

Taxonomic Notes:
Garra periyarensis was first described by Gopi (2001) from the headwaters of Periyar River inside the
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India.

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2013

Date Assessed:

April 3, 2010

Justification:
Garra periyarensis is endemic to the upper reaches of Periyar River in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala
and it has been assessed as Vulnerable because of its very restricted area of occupancy (<20 km).
Although the entire range of the species is inside a protected area with no threats to the habitat, there
is a very high probability of three exotic species threatening G. periyarensis. Anecdotal data suggest that
the fish is very rare and that the species was encountered only four times in as many as seventeen
surveys conducted in and around its type locality, probably a reflection of the negative impact of the
exotics. It is recommended that study of impacts of exotic species must be urgently taken up as this may
change the status of the species.

Geographic Range
Range Description:
Garra periyarensis is endemic to the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala, where it
occurs in the upstream reaches of Periyar River (Gopi 2001). So far it is known only from Thanikkudy
and Mlappara regions inside the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve (Euphrasia et al. 2006, Gopi
2001, Kurup et al. 2004). It is seen only in one location with the stream length of 10 km and the width of
about 100 m.

Country Occurrence:
Native: India (Kerala)

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

Distribution Map

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

Population
No information is available on the population of Garra periyarensis. Anecdotal data suggest that the fish
is very rare (Kurup and Radhakrishnan 2006). Catch per hour of G. periyarensis in its type locality was
very low; the species was encountered only four times in as many as seventeen surveys conducted in
and around its type locality (Euphrasia et al. 2006).
Current Population Trend:Unknown

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

Inhabits fast flowing streams with boulders, cobbles, pebbles and sand as substrate (R. Raghavan and A.
Ali pers. obs.).

Systems:Freshwater

Use and Trade

There is no information on the use of G. periyarensis either as food or for non-consumptive purposes.

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

Although no current threats exist for this species, there is a potential future threat from three exotic
species (Cyprinus carpio var. communis, Oreochromis mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus). These
species occur in Periyar Lake (Kurup et al. 2006, Periyar Foundation 2006), which is located
downstream of Thanikkudy (the type locality of G. periyarensis).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

No conservation action is in place. There is also no information on life history, ecology and population
status. The Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Kerala is promoting the fishery of exotic
fish species in Periyar Lake as a means to control their proliferation (A. Ali pers.obs.)

Credits
Assessor(s):

Ali, A. & Raghavan, R.

Reviewer(s):

Rema Devi, K.R., Gopalakrishnan, A., Arunachalam, M., Shrikant, J., Johnson, J.A.,
Rahul, K. & Molur, S.

Contributor(s):

Molur, S.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

Bibliography
Euphrasia, C.J., Radhakrishnan, K.V. and Kurup, B.M. 2006. The threatened freshwater fishes of Kerala,
India. In: B.M. Kurup. and K. Ravindran (eds), Sustain Fish 2005. International Symposium on improved
Sustainability of Fish Production Systems and appropriate technologies for utilization, pp. 570-588.
Kochi, India.
Gopi, K.C. 2001. Garra periyarensis, a new cyprinid fish from Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Journal
of the Bombay Natural History Society 98(1): 80-83.
IUCN. 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2011.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 16 June 2011).
Kurup, B.M and Radhakrishnan, K.V. 2006. Status of freshwater fish germplasm resources of Kerala,
India. In: B.M. Kurup and K. Ravindran (eds), Sustain Fish 2005. International Symposium on improved
Sustainability of Fish Production Systems and appropriate technologies for utilization, pp. 536-554.
Kochi, India.
Kurup, B.M., Manojkumar, T.G and Radhakrishnan, K.V. 2006. Fish and fisheries of Periyar Lake. Indian
Journal of Fisheries 53(2): 153-166.
Kurup, B.M., Radhakrishnan, K.V. and Manojkumar, T.G. 2004. Biodiversity Status of Fishes Inhabiting
Rivers of Kerala (South India) With Special Reference to Endemism, Threats and Conservation Measures.
In: R.L. Welcomme and T. Petr (eds), Proceedings of the second international symposium on the
management of large rivers for fisheries 2: 316. Cambodia.
Periyar Foundation. 2006. Annual Report of Periyar Foundation 2005-2006.

Citation
Ali, A. & Raghavan, R. 2013. Garra periyarensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013:
e.T172499A6904220. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

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To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

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

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

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

Season

Suitability

Major
Importance?

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.1. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent

Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)

Suitable

Yes

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

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact Score

8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->

8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.2.
Named species (Cyprinus carpio)

Future

Whole (>90%)

Slow, significant
declines

Low impact: 5

Stresses:

2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

2. Species Stresses -> 2.3. Indirect species effects ->
2.3.2. Competition

Future

Whole (>90%)

Stresses:

2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

2. Species Stresses -> 2.3. Indirect species effects ->
2.3.2. Competition

Future

Whole (>90%)

Stresses:

2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

2. Species Stresses -> 2.3. Indirect species effects ->
2.3.2. Competition

8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->

8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.2.
Named species (Clarias gariepinus)

8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->

8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.2.
Named species (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Slow, significant
declines

Slow, significant
declines

Low impact: 5

Low impact: 5

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning
Action Recovery plan: No
Systematic monitoring scheme: No
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over part of range
Occur in at least one PA: Yes

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

Conservation Actions in Place

Percentage of population protected by PAs (0-100): 100
Area based regional management plan: No
Invasive species control or prevention: No
In-Place Species Management
Harvest management plan: No
Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No
Subject to ex-situ conservation: No
In-Place Education
Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No
Included in international legislation: No
Subject to any international management/trade controls: No

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.2. Invasive/problematic species control
3. Species management -> 3.2. Species recovery
3. Species management -> 3.4. Ex-situ conservation -> 3.4.1. Captive breeding/artificial propagation
3. Species management -> 3.4. Ex-situ conservation -> 3.4.2. Genome resource bank
4. Education & awareness -> 4.1. Formal education
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.en

Research Needed
2. Conservation Planning -> 2.1. Species Action/Recovery Plan
2. Conservation Planning -> 2.2. Area-based Management Plan
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
3. Monitoring -> 3.4. Habitat trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (km): 10
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): No
Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km): 100
Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): No
Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No
Number of Locations: 2
Continuing decline in number of locations: No
Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No
Lower elevation limit (m): 900
Upper elevation limit (m): 1200

Population
Continuing decline of mature individuals: No
Extreme fluctuations: No
Population severely fragmented: No

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: No

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Garra periyarensis published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172499A6904220.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: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES