Fundulopanchax marmoratus (Radda 1973)

Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

Meaning of Name

After the mottled patterning on the sides.
First Description

Radda A.C. 1973.

Vorläufige Beschreibung von Aphyosemion marmoratum nov.spec. und Aphyosemion rubrolabiale nov.spec. aus Westkamerun.

Aquaria 20: p 184-188, figure.
Size

5 cm
Meristics
  • D = 11, A = 15-16, D/A = +8, ll = 32-33 (Radda 1973)
  • D - 11-12, A = 14-15, ll = 32-33(+2) (Radda & Pürzl 1987)
Karyotype

n = 20, A = 34 (Scheel 1974)
Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion ?
Group

oeseri
Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion marmoratum Radda 1973
  • Aphyosemion santaisabellae marmoratum Scheel 1990
Populations
  • Mbongé (northeast of)(western Cameroon)
  • Mbongé (west of)(western Cameroon)
  • ADL 13 / 43 - Ituka
  • GS 88/1 (Mundemba) - (GS1)

Male collected from the type locality, 16 km northeast of M'bonge.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Female collected from the type locality, 16 km northeast of M'bonge.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Fp.marmoratus.
Photo courtesy of Monty Lehmann.

BKA photo taken in the 1970's.

Form circulating in the BKA in 1982.


Taken at the AIK Convention 2014

GS 88 / 1 - Mundemba - I have had this population & always found them prolific. Usually distributud just as GS 1.Collected by Gresens Schwoiser V, & Horst in January 1988.
http://www.theboulets.net/killi_pix/Aph_spGS1.jpg Stephen Boulet's website.


GS 1 circulating in the BKA.
Photo courtesy of Pat Rimmer

GS 1. Photo courtesy of Stephen Boulet

GS 1 Male.
Photo courtesy of Roger Gladwell

GS 1 Female. Photo Roger Gladwell
Type Locality

16 km northeast of Mbonge on the road to Kumba, western Cameroon.
Distribution

Small area of distribution northeast of Mbonge, western Cameroon.
Habitat

Coastal rainforest streams, swamps & swampy regions of brooks.
Distinguishing Characteristics Females can be distinguished from other sp. of Aphyosemion by scale edges which are black. Also, 2 fine lines of red spots run behind the gills seperating the dark olive upper region from the paler belly area. The dorsal has a fine white tip. Pelvic fins (especially strong in young females) are tipped white.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low
History

First discovered by Dr.A.C.Radda in February 1972. Tha BKA published a provisional description by Radda as the period up to the official publication was quite lengthy. During this wait the sp. was available to certain killie hobbyists.

Possibly first distributed in the UK at the Collingham AGM in October 1973.

Breeding Notes

Regarded as an easy species which can be prolific. Eggs are laid in top mops which can be harvested regularly & water incubated for 15-17 days. Growth is quite rapid with sexual maturity being attained around 4-5 months.

A breeding report by Fred Wright in BKA newsletter No. 107, July 1974 remarked that this sp. would spawn in a wide variety of water conditions. Eggs were laid mainly in bottom mops. Water incubation was used & fry hatched in 15-18 days at 22°C. At about 1" the fish were seen to get 'fright disease' although the fish appear to be quite hardy.
An interesting point was made with leaving fry with the parents. Young parents seem to eat the youngsters whilst more mature parents appeared to leave the fry alone.

Francis Bruhier in BKA Newsletter No.385, October 1997 reported using dark brown mops. Eggs were found all over the mop.Eggs stored on peat fibre & wet every month. Water stored eggs hatched in 18-20 days. Fry grew rapidly - sexing out at 3-4 months. Broods are biased towards males at 70%.
Diameter of Egg 1·12 - 1·5 mm (Francis Bruhier)
Remarks

This species is a good jumper & has been known to squeeze through very small gaps in the cover.