Paratherina labiosa is a member of Telmatherinidae family that is reported to be restrictedly distributed in Lake Lontoa, a relatively small lake within Malili Lake System that faces substantial threats from the surrounding. Severe deforestation is considered as the main contributor that lead to the high sedimentation in the lake. This nuisance can cause changes on water quality that could eventually affect fish ecological adaptation.

There is not much, if none, information available about the existence and distribution of this species in the lake. Herder et al. (2006) were not able to observe the presence of this species. Following the preliminary visit, in several occassion he tried to locate the fish but could not eventually reveal the existence of the fish (pers. communication). The latest IUCN Red List assessment yielded the same result, failed to observed the fish.