Fundulopanchax mirabilis moensis (Radda 1970)

Photo courtesy of Roger Gladwell

Meaning of Name

After the Mo River. ('ensis' - to come from).

First Description

Radda A.C. 1970 (Aphyosemion mirabile moense).

Vorläufige Beschreibung zweier neuer Unterarten einer neuen Art der Gattung Aphyosemion Myers aus Westkamerun.

Aquaria Osterreich 4: p 58-61, figure.

Size

6 cm

Meristics
  • D = 12-14, A = 15-16, D/A = +6-7, ll = 32-33 (Radda 1970)
  • D = 14, A = 15, ll = 32-33 (Radda 1971)
  • D = 13-14, A = 14-15, ll = 31-32 +3-4 (Radda 1974)
  • D = 12-15, A =15-16, ll = 31-33 (Radda & Pürzl 1987)
Karyotype
  • n = 16-17, A = 29 (Manyemen population)
  • n = 19, A = 34 (other populations) (Scheel 1990)
Sub-Genus

Paraphyosemion

Group

gardneri

Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion mirabile moense Radda 1970
  • Aphyosemion moense Huber 1977
  • Fundulopanchax mirabilis moensis Lazara 1984
  • Aphyosemion (Paraphyosemion) mirabile moense Huber 1994
Populations
  • Kendem-Noumba
  • Mainou
  • Manyemen
  • Mo River (west Cameroon)
  • Nguti (HAH 48)
  • Numba GPE 90 / 9
  • Tinto
  • GPE 90/9 Numba
  • HAH 98 / Bakebe

Male collected from the type locality.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Above & left photo bought at an SKS auction & imported to the USA.
Photo courtesy of Allen Boatman.

Form known to have been circulated in the BKA
Photo courtesy of Pat Rimmer.

http://www.nakashima.org/ga_mirare.htm

Type Locality

A relatively large tributary on the Mo River on the road from Mamfe to Bamenda, between Kendem & Noumba, western Cameroon.

Distribution

Upper Cross River drainage system particularly the Mo River. This is situated on the eastern slopes of the Mamfe plateau.

Habitat

Small rainforest streams & brooks.

Distinguishing Characteristics  
Colour/Pattern Variability  
History

Collected by Dr.A.C.Radda from the type locality. A description appeared in BKA newsletter No.79, March 1972.

Breeding Notes

This is the one mirabilis subspecies I have not maintained. Reports suggest they breed in the manner described for Fp.mirabilis.

Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

It was tempting to lump Fp.mirabilis intermittens & Fp.mirabilis traudeae with this subspecies along with the view of Wildekamp 1996 & Scheel 1990. However, as I have not kept moensis & in the light that further work is needed on the mirabilis subspecies I have split all subspecies into seperate files.