By Brian R. Watters
A few years ago the subject of Nothobranchius species from Uganda was well covered in an article by Wildekamp (see abstract elsewhere in this issue). The following is a more current overview of the subject.Editor
Most early reports of Nothobranchius from Uganda (prior to 1969) regarded these [the yellow-tail Notho] as N. taeniopygus. Now we know this to be incorrect. In 1969 and 1971, Tait reported a Nothobranchius from the northeastern part of Uganda (Soroti-Moroto road) that is now referred to as N. cf. taeniopygus. So far as I am aware, this is the only Nothobranchius that MAY be N. taeniopygus, but we have not been able to confirm this by recollection (see below).
In 1971, David Blair collected a Nothobranchius not too far northwest of Kampala and this showed two phenotypes: a red and a blue. The “blue” form is essentially a blue bodied fish with a black-edged, yellow caudal fin and a blue anal fin with yellow overtones. The “red” form has blue scales with red edging, often forming an oblique barring on the body, a red caudal fin with a black edging, a blue anal fin which may have some red markings, a red dorsal region and red lips. These represent two morphs of a single species and could be found in the same pools. Live specimens reached the United Kingdom, but were not propagated. There is a brief note in an early BKA Killi-news about this collection.
This Notho, which occurs in two color forms, is what Wildekamp described as N. ugandensis. Not all populations are mixed (see below).
Early in 1988, Lothar Seegers collected N. ugandensis from a locality close to where Tait collected his fish. This population was referred to as N. sp. U-19.
In June of 1988, Wildekamp, Sainthouse, Rowley and Sadler went to Uganda and, among other fishes, collected the following Nothos: N. sp. UG 88/2 (now N. ugandensis UG 88/2) – blue population; N. sp. UG 88/3 (now N. ugandensis UG 88/3) – mixed red and blue population; N. sp. UG 88/4 (now N. ugandensis UG 88/4) – mixed red and blue population; N. sp. UG 88/8 (now N. ugandensis UG 88/8) – red population; N. sp. UG 88/22 (now N. ugandensis UG 88/22) – mostly a blue population, occasional red specimen; N. robustus UG 88/1; N. robustus UG 88/15; N. robustus UG 88/16; and N. robustus UG 88/18.
In 1990, Wildekamp, Watters, Sainthouse, de Greef and Sadler went to Uganda and, among other fishes, collected the following Nothos: N. robustus UG 90/4; N. robustus UG 90/9; N. robustus UG 90/10; N. robustus UG 90/11; N. sp. UG 90/ lone male from the N. sp. UG 88/22 locality, not assigned a collection code and not brought back alive.
In 1992, John Rosenstock collected two populations of Nothobranchius from locations close to the location of N. sp. UG 88/8. These were: N. sp. Lake Albert UG 92/3 and N. sp. Lake Albert UG 92/5.
The description of N. ugandensis by Wildekamp was published in 1994. In 1990, during our visit to Uganda, we had plans to try to get to the northeastern part of the country to collect Tait’s N. cf. taeniopygus. However, that part of the country was still very unstable in the aftermath of the civil war and it was simply too dangerous to visit. My personal opinion is that when we are able to collect and examine live specimens of this Notho, it will prove to be something other than N. taeniopygus. Something intriguing for the future and on my list for a future collecting trip!
It is interesting, but also rather disturbing, to note that with the exception of N. sp. Lake Albert UG 92/3 and N. ugandensis UG 88/4, all of the above populations were introduced into the hobby, and today all that are left are: N. ugandensis UG 88/22 (very uncommon); N. ugandensis UG 88/8 (very rare); and N. robustus UG 90/10 (present in my fishroom only). N. ugandensis UG 88/3 may still be around somewhere in Europe, but I fear that it, too, is lost.
All of these Ugandan Nothos were easily bred in the first few generations but became generally more difficult with each generation. N. robustus is particularly bad in this respect. All are very active and short-lived Nothos with relatively short incubation times. This is due to the fact that the Lake Victoria region receives two rainy seasons per year. I have had eggs from the wild N. robustus eye up fully and hatch within three weeks of spawning! Now, however, about 2.5-3 months would be normal for both N. robustus and N. ugandensis.
G.C.K.A. Newsletter, July 1997. Brian R. Watters, 1996; printed with permission.