Lacustricola hutereaui (Boulenger 1913)

Boulenger's line drawing from 'Freshwater Fishes of Africa' 1915.

Meaning of Name

After Commandant M.Hutereau collector of type material.
First Description

Haplochilus hutereaui Boulenger G.A.1913.

Sur une petite collection de poissons récrueillis dand l'Uelé, par la mission dirigée par M.Hutereau.

Revue Zoologique Africaine 2 (2): p159.

Size

35 mm Total Length (Boulenger 1913). Females grow to about 30 mm.
Meristics
  • D = 8-9, A = 13-15, ll = 23-24 (Boulenger 1915)
Karyotype

n = 24, A = 38 (Scheel 1981)
Sub-Genus

 
Group

 
Synonyms
  • Haplochilus Hutereaui Boulenger 1913
  • Haplochilichthys hutereaui Ahl 1924
  • Aplocheilichthys hutereaui Myers 1924
  • Micropanchax baudoni Myers 1924
  • Haplochilichthys spilauchen (non Dumeril 1861) Vinciguerra 1928
  • Panchax hutereaui Holly 1930
  • Aplocheilus chobensis Fowler 1935
  • Aplocheilichthys chobensis Myers 1938
  • Aplocheilichthys myaposae (non Boulenger 1908) Jubb 1961 (in part)
  • Aplocheilichthys johnstoni (non Günther 1893) Jubb 1967
  • Aplocheilichthys schalleri Scheel & Radda 1974
  • Micropanchax schalleri Huber, Seegers & Wildekamp 1983
  • Micropanchax hutereaui Huber, Seegers & Wildekamp 1983

Populations

  • Bambari, C.A.R.
  • Lake Calundo, Angola
  • Macovane, Mozambique
  • Mansa
  • Maséké
  • Mongu, W.Zambia
  • Maséké - Photos of this population show males with a bright pale blue outer margin in the dorsal & anal fins.
Type Locality

Dungu, on the Uelle River, N.Zaire.
Distribution

Two groups are seperated by a wide band of rainforest. The northern group is found in small streams, swamps & shallow areas of lakes from Lake Chad in the west to the Upper & middle White Nile system in the East.
The southern group inhabits streams & swamps from Angola in the west to the Indian Ocean coast in the east.
Also found widespread in the Kasanka National Park, Zambia.

Habitat

Savannah areas.
See distribution. Sympatric sp. Hypsopanchax jubbi, L.johnstoni, L.katangae.
Distinguishing Characteristics Reticulated pattern on rear of body.
Colour/Pattern Variability
History

Boulenger gives the following collectors / locations in his 1915 Catalogue.

1. (One of types) Collected at Dungu, Uelle by M.Hutereau.

Reported to have been first imported into the USA in 1970 under the name 'lampeye'.
Breeding Notes

Reportedly not an easy fish to breed. Eggs are sensitive to touch & a natural set up is preferred leaving eggs to hatch with parents in a well planted tank. Water incubation 12-14 days. Fry are small & do best on Paramecium as a first food. Growth rate is slow with maturity at 8-9 months.
Diameter of Egg Reported as being 'quite large'.
Remarks

It is considered that some locations may eventually evolve into new subspecies.