Refers to the beautiful caudal fin.

Boulenger G.A. 1911.

Descriptions of new African Cyprinodont Fishes.

Annals & Magazine of Natural History. series 2 (8) VIII (44): 265.

5 cm

D = 9-10, A = 12-13, D/A = +6-7, ll = 29-30.

Very variable. Scheel (1974) measured n = 10-20, A = 20-31.

Mesoaphyosemion

A.calliurum

• Haplochilus elegans non Boulenger 1899; Arnold 1908.
• Haplochilus cameronensis non Boulenger 1903; Träber-Klotzche 1911.
• Haplochilus calliurus Boulenger 1911.
• Panchax calliurus Ahl 1924.
• Aphyosemion calliurus Rachow 1924
• Panchax unicolor Ahl 1924
• Panchax flavus Ahl 1924
• Panchax vexillifer Meinken 1928.
• Aphyosemion calliura Rachow 1928
• Panchax vexillifer Meinken 1929
• Aphyosemion vexillifer (Meinken 1929).
• Aphyosemion vexillifer Myers 1933
• Aphyosemion caliurum calliurum Myers 1933
• Aphyosemion calliurum Stoye 1935
• Epiplatys unicolor Daget & Iltis 1965
• Panchax flavus (sic!) Daget & Iltis 1965
• Epiplatys flavus Scheel 1968
• Aphyosemion unicolor Scheel 1968
• Aphyosemion oeseri non Schmidt 1928; Trewavas et al. 1972
• Aphyosemion NSC 1 Baker-Carr 1975
• Aphyosemion bivittatum unicolor Lazara 1979

• Agalaih Koduru, Nigeria
• Akok
• Bakundu Forest Reserve
• Bekondo (Western Cameroon)
• Benin
• Bogongo
• Campo
• Edea (Western Cameroon)
• Ekona
• Fungé
• Ijebu Ode
• Ikeja
• Ikorodu ( CI 05 )
• Kpenié
• Kumba
• Lagos
• Majidun - NG MM 14
• Malende
• Meanja
• Mojuka (Majuka ?, Western Cameroon)
• Monea
• M'kapa
• Mukona (Western Cameroon)
• Muyuka
• Ntabako (Southern Cameroon)
• Powo Camp
• Sakote (Southeastern Benin)
• Siloko (AKA)
• ABC 97 / 07 - Cellucam
• C 03/04
• CB3SR 07 / 20 - Bogongo
• CCMPT 84 / ? - Meandja, rubber plant
• HLM 99 / 13 - Bombe
• HLM 99 / 14 - 1 km south of Muyuka Police
• UW 08

Given as Southern Nigeria (Clausen 1967).

Southern Benin, southern Nigeria & south western Cameroon.

Still places in swamps, streams & pools in coastal plain rainforest.

A confusing background. Arnold in 1908 first reported them as coming from Sierra Leone. Boulenger reported them as coming from Liberia.

Boulenger gives the following collectors / locations in his 1915 Catalogue.

• 1-12 (Types). Collected by J.P.Arnold in Liberia.
• 13-15. Collected by Mr.G.Gerlach in West Africa.

First reported to have been received in a shipment of fish to Hamburg from Africa in January 1908. Contained in this shipment were 2 unknown specimens which were bought by Arnold who raised them into a pair which later spawned. A young male from this match was preserved & sent to Boulenger in London who at first thought them to be A.elegans. However after further preserved specimens & a colour sketch from Arnold, Boulenger considered these preserved specimens to be a new sp. which he named Haplochilus calliurus.

A second shipment arrived in November 1908. Fish derived from this shipment could be traced up to 1914 in captivity where upon they died out in popularity being replaced by the more colourful A.australe & A.ahli which were around at the time.

Another shipment was reported by Rachow in 1924 which was soon lost.

In 1962 they were caught at Ijebu-Ode by Clausen who gave some to Scheel who bred them.

First reports of their introduction to the BKA comes in the April 1966 BKA newsletter (No.8) where they were first introduced as Aphyosemion 'species'. These were known to have been kept in the Midlands area some 18 months previously.

History of the synonym Panchax unicolor Ahl 1924

Ahl described this sp. from a single specimen supplied by the aquarist Matte of Berlin who reported them being collected from 'West Africa'. This specimen has not been redescribed & the meristic data given by Ahl is uncertain.

History of the synonym Panchax vexillifer Meinken 1929

It is thought that Meinken used one male & one female for his description of this sp. These came from a large commercial import from Africa imported by Platy-Tischrunde of Hamburg. Meinken considered this sp. to be closest to Fp.oeseri.
The name vexillifer has been used erroneously in various publications including The Aquarium (Innes). 33. (11). 1964 (author H.M.Selvey) & Aquar. Terr. 13. 1966 (author H.Wilhelm).
The first report of introduction to the UK comes in the BKA Newsletter No.7, March 1966 where a visiting German aquarist on January 17th 1966 brought a few sp. including eggs of the then named A.vexillifer.
The confusion over vexillifer was also seen in Denmark around this time as they had 4 different forms known as vexillifer in circulation.
I had A.vexillifer in the '70's & found them easily bred.
An article appeared in the BKA newsletter No. 113, January 1975 by C.Turner which helped to confuse vexillifer & 'Burundi' & probably led to both sp. being regarded as one & the same. The article states-'
In 1964 approximately a strain of Aphyosemion very similar to Aphyosemion gardneri was distributed as an aquarium fish in Germany under the name of Aphyosemion 'burundi'. No zoological description of the 'burundi phenotype has been published as it is certain this form does not come from Burundi, but is more likely from some part of Southern Nigeria. The fish is widely known through the BKA as Aphyosemion vexillifer...'

This sp. is a typical top spawner, laying eggs in floating vegetation or spawning mops (floating or sunken). Eggs are water incubated for 10-20 days. Fry are large enough on hatching to consume newly hatched brine shrimp.

Sterba, in his book 'Freshwater Fishes of the World' (1962) makes a point that females should not be allowed to breed too early. He regarded a spawning period to last for 2-3 weeks with 15-20 eggs being layed daily. Young hatched in 12-20 days.

A breeding report appeared in BKA newsletter No.78, February 1972 in which was stated new water should be avoided. Water depth should not exceed 6". Water temperature 72°F. The parents can be quite prolific with eggs taking about 14 days to water incubate at 72°F. Some eggs were noted for taking up to 25 days to hatch. The natural method of breeding worked well with this sp. with eggs being left with the parents. Growth is reported as being rapid with full maturity being attained in 5 months.

A breeding report in BKA newsletter No.224, April 1984 concerning the Mojuka population states that the fish bred well at 76-80°F but not at 68-70°F. The fish preferred to lay at the top of the tank. Eggs were small, clear & bright. Fry emerged after 12-30 days of water incubation & were fed on infusoria for a few days before being offered microworm. Water changes were no problem with this sp.

This sp. is fairly easy to get hold of as many populations circulate in captivity. They are one of the easiest sp. to spawn & ideal for the newcomer to Killies. Many aquarists plant the spawning tanks heavily & let nature take its course. Fry are usually un-molested & grow on with the parents.