Epiplatys nigricans (Boulenger 1913)
Meaning of Name |
After the black or dark colouration. |
First Description |
Boulenger G.A. 1913. Sur une petite collection de poissons recueillis dans l'Ulélé par la mission dirigée par M.Hutereau. Revue de Zoologie Africaine 2 (2): p 160. |
Size |
6 cm |
Meristics |
|
Karyotype |
|
Sub-Genus |
Epiplatys |
Group |
chevalieri clade |
Synonyms |
|
Populations
|
|
Type Locality |
Dungu, at the junction of the rivers Kibali & Dungu, Haut Zaire, northeastern Zaire). |
Distribution |
Large area of distribution on the eastern banks of the Zaire River. They are found in the drainage systems of the Uele, Tshuapa, lower Kasai (including Kwilu) & Sankuru Rivers. Also found in Lake Fwa. The falls of Portes d'Enfer on the Zaire River are thought to be the uppermost limit of distribution. It is thought this subspecies is restricted to forested areas & not adjacent savannah. The full area of distribution is not fully known at present but is considerably larger than first thought. http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/homepage/c102/c102mr/epiplaty/nigrican.htm |
Habitat |
Forested areas of small rivers, creeks & swamps. Matthes caught them in swamps & small brooks where he observed small schoals near to the surface of the water. This water, he commented, was almost stagnant. |
Distinguishing Characteristics | Distinguished from E.chevalieri chevalieri by being more thinner. Also, the basic colouration is much darker. They have a permanent dark longitudinal bar which only manifests itself with chevalieri when frightened. |
Colour/Pattern Variability | Probably quite high given the area of distribution. |
History |
Boulenger described this subspecies originally as Haplochilus nigricans from three specimens collected at Dungu on the Uelle River, northern Central Congo drainage. Boulenger gives the following collector / location in his 1915 Catalogue.
Pellegrin, in 1925, reports them from M'Bouamo on the Ebaka River a feeder for the Djoua River which leads into the Ivindo River. Scheel considered these may represent E.sangmelinensis. Pellegrin again reported them in 1930 this time from the Sangha River, Congo drainage. In 1952 poll reported them from various localities in the Central Congo drainage in an area between Stanleyville & Leopoldville. These locations were in high forest & gallery forest. In 1961 Lambert reported them from many localities in the eastern area of the Central Congo drainage. These districts being Banalia, Ikela & Opala. In 1963 Gosse reported them from Yangambi & stated that they were rarer than E.multifasciatus in this area. Matthes, in 1964, reported them from Lake Tumba & the Ikela district & also commented on there eating terrestrial insects & aquatic insect larvae. He also found filamentous algae in stomach contents. Huber collected this sp. in many localities in 1978. Formerly a subspecies - Epiplatys chevalieri nigricans but now considered to be a full species - E.nigricans. |
Breeding Notes |
Not well known but presumed to be the same as E.chevalieri chevalieri. Water incubation is reported to be 13-16 days. Growth is slow with sexual maturity taking in excess of 8 months. |
Diameter of Egg | |
Remarks |
According to Matthes who studied the diet of this subspecies they live on terrestrial insects & larvae of aquatic insects. Filamentous algae was also occaisionally found in the stomach. |