Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059)
Africa: Mbezi River and Luhule River, Tanzania (Ref. 59344, 74420). The paratypes and other reports from the Mbwemkuru River (Ref. 59344, 97256) are misidentifications of Nothobranchius cardinalis (Ref. 74420).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 74420); 2.8 cm SL (female)
Bottom spawner; 2-4 months incubation; very difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Watters, B.W., B.J. Cooper and R.H. Wildekamp, 2008. Description of Nothobranchius cardinalis spec. nov. (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae), an annual fish from the Mbwemkuru River basin, Tanzania. J. Am. Killifsh Ass. 40(5&6):129-145. (Ref. 74420)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources