Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059)
Africa: widely distributed, found in drainage systems of the rivers Umba, Pangani, Wami, Ruvu, Mbezi, Ruhoi, Matandu, Mbwemkuru, Rufiji in eastern Tanzania; in northern Zanzibar; and in the Umba and Ramisi drainages in southeastern Kenya (Ref. 83514).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139)
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 14-17;
Anal
soft rays: 15 - 18. This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: in males, the red caudal fin has narrow black margins at the upper and lower corners, narrow white margin to dorsal and anal fins, and silver iris; in females, flanks with irregularly dispersed black spots and on the basal half of the unpaired fins. This species differs from N. lucius in having a plain red caudal fin with narrow margin at the upper and lower corners in male (Ref. 83514).
Occurs in temporary pools in floodplains, rice fields, swamps, ditches and small streams (Ref. 3788). Found in water-filled depressions in floodplains of rivers; with vegetation often near edges, usually grasses; occasionally grasses cover the entire pool; if aquatic vegetation is present, it may comprise of Nymphea, Ottelia, Lagarosiphon, and Utricularia species; annual species; eggs deposited in substrate where they survive dry season; hatching at onset of wet season; rapid growth of fry; sexual maturity may be attained in six weeks; may be associated with other annual or non-annual fish species (Ref. 83514). Bottom spawner; 4 months incubation; difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Annual fishes.
Huber, J.H., 1996. Killi-Data 1996. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Atherinomorpha, Pisces). Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, 399 p. (Ref. 27139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 115941)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00444 - 0.02358), b=2.94 (2.74 - 3.14), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.45 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ().
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100) .