Aphyosemion pseudoelegans Rainer Sonnenberg & Jouke R. Van der Zee 2012
Photo courtesy of Heinz Ott with help from Axel Schwekendiek.
Meaning of Name |
After pseudo meaning lying or false. |
First Description |
Aphyosemion pseudoelegans (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) A new killifish species from the Cuvette centrale
in the Congo Basin (Democratic Republic of Congo) |
Size |
Male (Paratype), max. 36·7mm SL, female (Paratype) max. 28·7mm SL. |
Meristics | D=8-9, A=13-15, D/A=8-10, C=24-28, ll=29/30. |
Karyotype |
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Sub-Genus |
Aphyosemion |
Group |
elegans |
Synonyms |
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Populations
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Boendé - J.Lambert brought back to Europe fish from this location which is situated some 300 km east of the type locality. Specimens from this collection were placed in the Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium. Live specimens were released into the hobby & were reportedly still alive in 1984. This was reportedly a difficult population to maintain & breed. |
Type Locality | |
Distribution | Small rivers on the left bank of the mid section of the Congo River. Known to have been collected in the Tshuapa, Lomani and Lokoro drainages. |
Habitat | Small
shallow tributaries under forest cover. Found sympatric with A.elegans, A.sp.aff.castaneum & an undescribed species of Aphyosemion at Ikela. |
Distinguishing Characteristics | Dorsal
fin pattern & colouration - heavy red colour in dorsal fin. A.congicum
can have similarly patterned dorsal fin but is distinguished by few red
spots on flanks. A.pseudoelegans having
heavier spotting/pattern. Female A.pseudoelegans in a photograph in the paper describing the species have several red spots in the dorsal fin close to the body. |
Colour/Pattern Variability | |
History |
First import into Europe thought to be by Lambert in the sixties. These from Boende then called A.elegans. Collected by Armand van Deun on the road from
Boende to Yaa. From Yaa at the first bridge over a small river. In this
area many bridges are on the road with water holes between them. No
killies found at this location. At the 2nd bridge, near the river several
water holes full of leaves. First one was 30-40 cms deep. A female Aphyosemion
was seen. In the next hole which was 2 metres long & 1 metre wide,
5-10 cms of water & about 20 cms of leaves on the base they collected
29 Aphyosemion which turned out to be 14 male & 15 female. |
Breeding Notes | Probably similar to A.elegans. |
Diameter of Egg | |
Remarks |