| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 1609 | 363 | No | |||
| Freshwater | 17 | 8 | Yes | 45 | Kottelat, M. and T. Whitten, 1996 | |
| Total | 1633 | 373 | No | |||
| Conservation | Excellent and recent studies exist on the freshwater fishes of Singapore. Some 45 native species are currently listed. About 22 species are feral escapees from the ornamental trade industry, possibly posing a threat to native fishes. The Singapore Red Data Book throughly covers fish and aquatic invertebrates. Singapore’s environmental challenges stem from its rapid growth and urbanization. Industrial pollution from oil refineries and manufacturing industries has been made worse by the lack of land and by the growth of urban areas near industrial operations. There is limited natural fresh water. The government has launched an intensive project to improve the Singapore River and has planted 5 million trees in an effort to improve the environment. Singapore is a party to several international agreements related to such issues as endangered species, ozone-layer protection, and pollution from ships. |
| Geography and Climate |
Low-lying Singapore has no prominent relief features. A central area of hills rises to a maximum elevation of 176 meters. Singapore has a wet tropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 27°C. The average annual rainfall is 2,413 millimeters; the wettest months are November, December, and January. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |
Coral reefs are found in some coastal areas, and many short streams drain the island. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |