Aphyosemion gabunense Radda 1975

GBG 93 / 30
Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

Meaning of Name

After the country they inhabit - Gabon. This was formerly a German colony hence the spelling Gabun.

First Description

Radda A.C. 1975.

Contribution to the knowledge of Cyprinodonts of Gabon, with the description of four new species and one new subspecies of the genus Aphyosemion Myers.

Killi-News 118 (seperate): 17-18, figure 11. BKA.

Size

5 cm, females slightly smaller.

Meristics

D = 11-12, A = 13, ll = 28 (+2-3) (Radda 1975) (D/A = +6 ?)

Karyotype

n = 19, A = 26 (Scheel 1990)

Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion

Group

striatum

Synonyms

Aphyosemion gabunense gabunense Radda & Huber 1977

Populations
  • Assiss
  • Baraka
  • Lambaréné (30 km southeast of, northwestern Gabon)
  • Fougamou
  • G 80/12
  • GBG 93 / 30
  • GBG 93 / 35
  • GBL 85 / 7
  • JH 76 / 32 - 43 km north of Fougamou, near to Issinga.

GBG 93/30
Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

GBG 93/30 Female
Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

GBG 93/30
Photo courtesy of Michael Pidwirny

Probably one of mine taken early 1980's

A.gabunense circulating in the US around 1980. Photo courtesy of Lennie MacKowiak.

A.gabunense collected south of Lambarene. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

 

Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

 


G80 / 12 - First introduced to the BKA by Species Import Committee in September 1981.

Type Locality

Small stream between Lambaréné & Fougamou on NR 1 (National Road). Approximately 30 km southeast of Lambaréné towards Mouila; northwest Gabon. Found with Aphyosemion ogoense.

Distribution

A small area in the region of Bifoum, north western Gabon in the lower Ogowe & lower N'goumé River drainages. Northerly they are replaced by Aphyosemion striatum. South, they are replaced by the A.exigoideum group.

Habitat

Coastal rainforest swamps & brooks.
Data collected at the type locality in 1976 (visited after original collection) was - water temperature 22·6°C, 1·25 DH, electrical conductivity 82µs.

Distinguishing Characteristics Difficult to confuse this sp. with other Aphyosemion. Heavy red margins to all unpaired fins. Distinguished from A.boehmi (formerly A.gabunense boehmi) which has a yellow outer marginal band in the lower caudal fin.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low
History

Discovered by the German collector Herr Herzog in the later months of 1973 in a small stream in primary rainforest between Lambaréné & Fougamou near the Route National No.1, 30 kms south west of Lambaréné.

In the early part of 1975 Fred Wright (BKA) had this sp. & was unsure of its identity. Radda was visiting at the time & identified them as he had described them as a new sp. in this year.

Collected by Huber & Radda in 1976 near Issinga, 43 kms from Fougamou towards Lambaréné. This was location G 76/32.

Breeding Notes

Eggs laid in top mops. Early breeding reports in the BKA suggested they lay in the top most part of floating mops. Spawning occurs in periods so a period of seperation would be beneficial. The clear eggs water incubate for 18-22 days at 72°F. Fry accept newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth rate is quite slow with sexual maturity being reached in 5-6 months & full size around 8-9 months.
Eggs were dry stored for 14-21 days successfully.

Frank Cochrane in BKA Newsletter No.342, March 1994 reported eggs being laid on peat fibre & bottom mops with a few in floating mops. He also reported slow growth. Water temperature 22°C, pH 7. Eggs produced 20-24 in a day with the majority found in the peat fibre. Fry are small on hatching & stay near the surface.

Diameter of Egg 1·2mm
Remarks