Aphyosemion tirbaki Huber 1999

A.tirbaki. Photo courtesy of Peter Tirbak.

Meaning of Name

After Peter Tirbak.
First Description

Huber J.H. 1999.

A New Species of Cyprinodont fish, Aphyosemion tirbaki n. sp. (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae) from Gabon, with further Evidence of the Frontier Species Concept.

Freshw. Mar. Aquar. 22(4):104-118. (Ref. 52009)
Also appears in BKA newsletter No.409, October 1999.
Size

70 mm
Meristics

D = 14-15, A = 16, D/A = +3 to +4, ll = 27-28.
Karyotype

G.Collier has studied Karyotype & found it similar to A.coeleste. He did find DNA did not support a close relationship between the 2 species.
Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion
Group

ogoense
Synonyms

None
Populations
  • Tsotandzala - EBT 96/7
  • BSWG 97 / 8

BSWG 97/8 - Collected by Thomas Blum, P.Sewer, H.Weder R.Gluggenbuehl July/August 1997.

BSWG 97 / 8 taken at the SKS convention in Copenhagen 2004.

BSWG 97 / 8 taken at the SKS convention in Copenhagen 2004.
Photo courtesy of Dick Cox.

BSWG 97/9 - 20km north west of Tsotandzala. Collected by Thomas Blum, P.Sewer, H.Weder R.Gluggenbuehl July/August 1997. Found with A.lamberti.

EBT 96/7 - Southern Gabon. Tsotandzala, 82·7 km south east of Lastoursville. Collected by W.Eberl, T.Blum & P.Tirbak 1996.

Photo courtesy of Peter Tirbak

 
Type Locality

Near Tsotandzala, a village on the road from Lastourville to Moanda, 82·7 km from Lastourville, & about 38 km from Moanda. EBT 96/7. Described from 2 adjacent localities.
Distribution

Limited. Presently (2015) known from the type locality & one other location 20km to the south. No doubt other locations will be found in the area in future years.
Habitat

The type locality is a forest stream with clear, slow moving water. Base comprised of gravel. This stream was 2·5 - 3·5 metres wide & 30-60 cm deep. Partly shaded by over hanging terrestrial vegetation & semi aquatic plants along the edges. A.tirbaki was the only Killie found in the biotope. Other fish were Barbus sp. Ctenopoma kingsleyae, Characin sp., shrimps & tadpoles. Water measurements, pH 6·2 - 6·4, less than 1°dGH.

A.tirbaki collecting location.
Photo courtesy of Peter Tirbak
Distinguishing Characteristics Can be confused with A.coeleste. A.tirbaki has more pronounced & larger red spots on sides than known A.coeleste populations.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low.
History

Collected by W.Eberl, T.Blum & P.Tirbak 1996 at collection point EBT 96/7. Described by Huber in 1999.
Breeding Notes

Lays eggs near the surface. Water incubation takes about 21 days at 21°C.

Some reports suggest incubating eggs on moist peat for 21 days at a temperature of 68-70'F.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks