Scriptaphyosemion bertholdi (Roloff 1965)

SLCD 84/29 Yamandu
Photo courtesy of Christian Cauvet.

Meaning of Name

After Berthold.

First Description

Size

5 cm

Meristics

D=13, A=16, D/A= +6

Karyotype

n = 21, A = 22

Sub-Genus

Group

Synonyms
  • Roloffia bertholdi Roloff 1965
  • "Mueller's Aphyosemion"
Populations
  • Bo
  • Bomi Hills (Liberia)
  • Faimah (Sierra Leone)
  • Farie (Sierra Leone)
  • Gbatamah (Sierra Leone)
  • Kenema (Sierra Leone)
  • Lago (Sierra Leone)
  • Lenghe Curoh (Sierra Leone) S.wieseae
  • Luwela (Sierra Leone)
  • Newton Agri Station (Sierra Leone)
  • Tikonko
  • Victoria (Sierra Leone)
  • Yamandu (SLCD 84 / 29).

This form circulated in the USA in 1974.
Photo courtesy of Tony Terceira

Bomi Hills - Collected by Roloff in 1962.
Famiah - Collected by Busch & Hellner in 1969 (SL 89 code).
Farie - Collected by Busch & Weise in 1993 (SL 93 code).
Gbatamah - Collected by Busch & Wiese in 1993 (SL 93 code).
Kenema (Type locality) - Collected by Roloff in 1962 & Busch & Hellner in 1989 (SL 89 code).
Lago - Collected by Roloff in 1962.
Lenghe Curoh - Circulated originally as S.sp.Lenghe Curoh & still seen as such up to at least 2003. Now S.wieseae
Busch collected this population at collection point SL93 / 37.
A similar fish to this was collected by Cauvet et al in 1984 on the SL collecting trip.
Luwela - Collected by Busch & Wiese 1993 (SL 93 code).
Newton Agri Station - Also seen as Newton. Collected by Roloff in 1962.
Victoria - Collected by Busch & Weise in 1993. SL 93 code).

Type Locality

Near Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone.

Distribution

Sierra Leone & Liberia.

Habitat

Roloff measured the natural water as pH 4.2 - 6.8, GH 0.6.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Flanks in males are heavily patterned in red markings. The anal fin has an outer & sub marginal band. All photographs I have seen of this species from Scheel's ROTOW 1 to present day show 4 - 6 distinctive red spots near the body in this fin.
Scheel crossed this sp. with S.roloffi & these spots were still prominant.

Type locality, Kenema.

Totota

Colour/Pattern Variability Fairly low from photographs I have seen. This sp. has not been in the UK in enough populations to study.
History

Originally collected by Roloff near Kenema in 1965.

Collected at Totota, Liberia in 1965. This population circulated by the name "Mueller's Aphyosemion".

Recorded to have been imported into the UK on the 7th February 1973.

Breeding Notes

Diameter of Egg 1.1 mm
Remarks