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The Breede River redfin lives only in the streams of the Cape Fold mountains.They are thought to be relics of an ancient lineage of fish, which survived climate and other changes by retreating into cold mountain streams.Most minnow species are threatened, the redfin is listed as critically endangered.Large alien fish such as bass like to eat these small fish.

The Clanwilliam sawfin lives only in deep pools in the Olifants River system in the Western Cape.Males and females gather together under waterfalls and rapids to breed.

These fish live in summer rainfall areas in many of South Africa’s river systems, including the Orange-Vaal system, the Gourits, Gamtoos, Great Fish and Bushmans systems.They prefer standing or gently flowing water, and unlike many other indigenous fish, thrive in dams.In summer, they migrate upstream after rains, and spawn over flooded grassy river banks. Each female produces about 250 000 eggs, which hatch within 2 days. The larvae swim to the surface, and are lifted by the current and carried into deeper water, before the floodwaters subside altogether.

Banded tilapia live in the Orange River, rivers on KwaZulu-Natal south coast, southern Congo tributaries, Lake Malawi and the Zambezi.They prefer quiet or standing water with submerged vegetation.Tilapia feed on algae, soft plants, invertebrates, e.g. insects and sometimes small fish.Males build saucer-like nests in which eggs are laid and guarded by both parents.

Cape kurpers live in southern and southwestern Cape coastal rivers, and were also introduced into the Clanwilliam Olifants River system.They eat insects, other invertebrates and small fish.This species is threatened by habitat destruction and predation by alien bass.

Upside down jellies are commonly found in mangrove ecosystems and can tolerate a wide salinity range. They grow up to 25cm in diameter and the saucer-shaped bell of the jelly acts as a suction cup to stabilise the animal on the seabed.

Elf, also known as shad along the South African coast, are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They can grow to 60cm in length and up to 14kg in weight.

Giant guitarfish were previously thought to be wide-spread, but research has shown that this is probably the combined distribution of four related species. Giant guitarfish are now thought to occur only in the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean as far south as South Africa’s east coast.