Fundulopanchax rubrolabialis (Radda 1973)

Photos showing 2 forms of the Malende population with female on the right.
Photos courtesy of Alf & Anita Persson. See their website

Meaning of Name

Refers to the red lip on the lower jaw.
First Description

Radda A.C. 1973. (Aphyosemion rubrolabiale).

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

Aquaria 20: p 184-188, figure, map.
Size

5 cm
Meristics

D = 17-18, A = 18-19, D/A = 3/1, ll = 27-28 +2 (Radda 1973)
Karyotype

n = 22-23, A = 30-31 (Scheel 1974) variable between populations.
Sub-Genus

Paludopanchax
Group

 
Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion rubrolabiale Radda 1973
  • Fundulopanchax rubrolabiale Lazara 1984
  • Aphyosemion (Paludopanchax) rubrolabiale Huber 1994
Populations
  • Malendé (This population is very variable in colouration. Some specimens have plain lemon yellow anal fins whilst others have a red band running horizontally midway across the complete length of the fin). Barring to the body is also variable, some show this three quarters down the body, others only half way, & others show disjointed spots.
  • Mbongé (19 km north of)
  • Mbongo (could be a corruption)
  • Moende
  • Mungo River Delta
  • Volcano

Wild male collected 19 km north of Mbonge (type locality).
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Wild male collected 19 km north of Mbonge (type locality).
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

This form distributed in the BKA early 1980's.
Colour pattern suggests they may have originated from the Mungo River delta area.

Mbonge Wild male. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Mbonge Wild female. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Malendé
Photo courtesy of Ralph Tran

Malende Male, taken at the 2004 SKS convention.
Photo courtesy of Dick Cox.

Malende Female, taken at the 2004 SKS convention.
Photo courtesy of Dick Cox.

Malende taken at the 2004 SKS convention in Copenhagen. Note no anal fin bar.

Wild male collected at Mbonge, Cameroon.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Malende taken at the 2004 SKS convention in Copenhagen. Female at rear.
Photo courtesy of Dick Cox.

Type Locality

19 km northwest of Mbonge, western Cameroon. The biotope was given as 'loamy residual pools of a swampy area'.
Distribution

Found in the Mémé, Moko & Mungo River drainage systems of western Cameroon. Distribution is apparently restricted to biotopes on sedimentary soils.

Habitat

Dr.A.C.Radda found them in 3 localities, the area of Mbonge & offshoots of a river with a low water level & gentle flow situated 1·4 km west of the Mungo River on the road from Douala to Victoria. He reported finding 2 examples with a red band in the mid area of the anal fin & 1 example of a specimen with an incomplete band.

Raffia swamps, temporary pools & swampy parts of slow flowing brooks in humid coastal rainforest.

See Link for additional information.
Distinguishing Characteristics

See Fp.robertsoni.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low - medium. Main variability in the anal fin.
History

Collected by Dr.A.C.Radda in November 1973 in the area of Mbonge + two other localities.
Breeding Notes

Regarded as a difficult species to breed. A peat substrate has been used succesfully. This is taken out every couple of weeks & dried. Dry incubation takes around 3 months. Fry on hatching can take newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth is a little slow with sexual maturity being attained around 5-6 months.

A tip from an article in the BKA newsletter No.184, December 1980 regarding fish reluctant to spawn suggested removing water from the breeding setup to fool the fish into thinking the dry season is approaching.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks