Aphyosemion passaroi Huber 1994

A.passaroi
Photo courtesy Peter Venstermans

Meaning of Name

After Guido Passaro of Ludwigsburg.
First Description

Huber, JH 1994.

Aphyosemion passaroi, espèce inédite du Gabon sud-oriental, au patron de coloration unique et description complémentaire de Aphyosemion decorsei (Pellegrin). Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae. Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae.

Rev. Rev. Fr. Fr. Aquariol. Aquariol. v. v. 20 (núm. 3) for 1993 : 77-79. 20 (No. 3) for 1993: 77-79.
Size

5 cm TL. (25·9mm in Huber's description).
Meristics

D = 12, A = 16, D/A = +6-7, ll = 29-31
Karyotype

Sub-Genus

Group

Part of the coeleste - ocellatum - citrienipinnis group.

Synonyms

None.
Populations
  • Baposso - TDK 97/7
  • Mavanga
  • BB 04 / 11
  • EBT 96 / 13
  • EBT 96 / 14
  • GEB 94 / 3
  • GEB 94 / 4 - 1·5 km E Mavanga
  • GEB 94 / 5 - Komi
  • GEB 94 / 10
  • GEM 07 / 6
  • PEG 93 / 11
  • PEG 93 / 14
  • PEG 93 / 16 - Mayengué, 2 km south of Iboundji
  • PEG 93 / 18
  • TDK 97 / 17 - Moudouma

GEB 94/3 - 80 km east of Moukabou towards Mavanga. No other fish seen at this point.

GEB 94/5 -

 

GEB 94 / 5. Photo courtesy of Tony Terceira.

TDK 97/17 -

 

A.passaroi TDK 97/17
Photo courtesy of Peter Tirbak

  
Type Locality

Collected at PEG 93/11 on 10th July 1993 at noon by Wolfgang Eberl & Guido Passaro. 81·3 km east of Moukabou to Koulamoutou, Gabon. A brook running under the road through a pipe. Their was no name found for this brook & no nearby village. Coordinates were 01° 42' South and 12° 03 east. The brook was 40-50 cm wide & 20-30 cm deep with crystal clear water. Barbus sp., shrimps & tadpoles were also present.
Guido discovered the stream & they collected 10 fish & took them back to Germany.
Distribution

Limited area. At the time of the description only 2 localities were known in small streams near Mavanga on the road from Mimongo to Koulamoutou (along the River Onoy). It is thought the area may extend downstream.
Habitat

Type locality was 40 cm wide & 20 cm deep. Sympatric with barbs, shrimp & 'water bugs'.
Small streams in primary rainforest.

Collecting A.passaroi.
Distinguishing Characteristics Not easily confused with others of the genus. The anal fin is quite unique. The black outer margin is followed by a submarginal band of yellow (sometimes blue) followed by a wide band of red/orange.
Caudal is unique with a thick outer margin of black extending round the whole fin.
Colour/Pattern Variability Unknown but probably low.
History

Collected in July 1993 by Guido Passaro & Wolfgang Eberl at PEG 93 / 11.
Breeding Notes

George Funkner has bred these fish & sent me the following information - Aphyosemion passaroi Baposso TDK 97/7. Not prolific spawners so far... Collecting a few eggs per week. Some fry are growing... Breeders' water: 17°C - 21°C, pH 6·6 – 6·7, 0 - 2° dGH. Bare bottom tank 9L per pair. Long floating spawning mop. Oak leaves. Water level 8 cm. Weekly 30% water change. Live foods only: Daphnia, Tubifex, Glassworm and small Bloodworm. Fry are fed newly hatched brine shrimp and Microworm. Slow growers.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

Huber commented in the BKA reference below that water temperature should not exceed 21°C.

References: DKG Journal 26 (7).1994. - BKA Newsletter No.352, January 1995.