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Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius hengstleri is distinguished from N. melanospilus and N. cf. melanospilus on the basis of male and female colouration, and by a more convex dorsal profile; male N. hengstleri differs from male N. melanospilus in having a greater body depth, 30.4-31.8% of standard length vs. 29.3-30.3%, a longer head, 33.3-33.5% of standard length vs. 26.8-28.3%, a longer prepelvic length, 49.6-50.1% of standard length vs. 45.6-48.9%; males and females have fewer scales in longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 31-32; male N. hengstleri differs from male N. cf. melanospilus in having a greater body depth, 30.5-31.8% of standard length vs. 25.6-28.2%, a longer head, 33.3-33.5% of standard length vs. 29.5-32.6%; males and females have fewer scales in the longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 29-30; males differ from males of the other two species in having a deeper red colouration over the entire body and head, a spotted anal fin, well defined brown spots over entire fin vs. few spots limited at base, a different caudal-fin pattern, deep red, with a well defined complete black margin vs. red, without any particular marking or with thin rudimentary black margin sometimes reduced on upper and lower angle, and a different caudal fin shape, perfectly rounded vs. rounded to subtruncate; female N. hengstleri differ from female N. melanospilus by the spots on body and fins, absent vs. present, and by the caudal fin shape indicated immediately before; they also differ from female N. cf. melanospilus by the spots on body and fins, absent vs. present but rudimentary in some populations, absent in other populations (Ref. 59960). Among other closely related species, male N. hengstleri differs from male N. vosseleri in having a longer head, 33.3-33.5% of standard length vs. 25.1-31.5%, anal fin pattern, spots forming approximately three or four arch-like stripes in middle part of fin vs. small spots extending on fin rays and irregular stripes, male N. vosseleri from Korogwe area by dorsal and anal fins colouration, yellow-green vs. yellow-grey to pale blue, males and females with fewer scales in longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 25-31, and fewer anal fin rays, 14-16 vs. 15-18 (Ref. 58960). Male N. hengstleri differs from male N. interruptus in having a deeper red colouration over the entire body and head, caudal fin colouration, deep red with complete black margin vs. pale to clear red with irregular blue-grey to almost colourless border, dorsal fin colouration yellow-green, with red to brown spots vs. blue-grey to olive with dark grey spots, anal fin colouration yellow-green with red/brown spots vs. olive-yellow to pale blue with some grey spots near fin base, males and females with fewer scales in longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 27-32, and caudal fin shape perfectly rounded vs. subtruncate (Ref. 58960). Male N. hengstleri differs from male N. jubbi in having a deeper red colouration over the entire body and head, dorsal fin colouration yellowish with red/brown spots vs. blue-grey to olive with red brown spots, anal fin colouration yellow-green, with red-brown spots vs. olive-yellow to pale blue with some grey spots near fin base, caudal fin colouration deep red with complete black margin vs. blue-grey with a pattern of red-brown spots and a white margin in blue morph and clear red followed by a wide blue-grey band and white border in red morph, female N. hengstleri differs from female N. jubbi in body and unpaired fins pattern not marked vs. dark border on body scales and small dark grey marking at base of fins, males and females with fewer scales in longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 29-32, fewer dorsal fin rays, 13-16 vs. 15-20, fewer anal fin rays, 14-16 vs. 15-19, and caudal fin shape perfectly rounded vs. subtruncate (Ref. 58960). Male N. hengstleri differs from male N. elongatus in having a deeper red colouration over the entire body and head, anal fin colouration yellow-green, with red/brown spots vs. yellow-grey with few red spots near fin base, males and females have fewer scales in longitudinal series, 25-26 vs. 30-32, fewer anal fin rays, 14-16 vs. 16-18, and caudal fin shape perfectly rounded vs. subtruncate (Ref. 58960). Description: A robust, moderately deep-bodied Nothobranchius with pointed snout, terminal mouth directed upward (Ref. 58960). Dorsal-fin rays 13-16; anal-fin rays 14-16 (Ref. 58960). Longitudinal series of scales 25-26 and 2-4 on caudal-fin base (Ref. 58960). Cephalic squamation pattern variable, including showing G-type; anterior neuromast series on head 'open' type; central series in two shallow grooves, lined with low lobes; posterior cephalic neuromast series with curved shallow pits on each side; preopercular neuromast system in open groove, distal ridge slightly overlapping opercle; one neuromast on each scale of mid-lateral line (Ref. 58960). Colouration: Colour in life of males: scales on body and head light blue, with distinct red margins, resulting in a reticulated pattern; scale margins in ventral area orange; snout, throat, frontal and upper/dorsal part of head deep red; scales on middle part of caudal peduncle and on caudal fin base red; dorsal fin yellowish-green, with pattern of red/brown spots forming arch-like stripes and narrow lines; spots on distal part of fin smaller and more dense, with white to light blue border and with thin submarginal blue band; anal fin yellow-green, with pattern of red/brown spots forming approximately three or four arch-like stripes in middle part of fin; spots near base distally fused in narrow lines extending onto fin rays; fin with white to light blue border; caudal fin deep red, with complete black margin; pelvic fins light yellow-green, with some brown spots parallel to fin rays, light blue border and brown submarginal band; pectoral fins hyaline, with light blue margin; iris golden, with light blue iridescences and faint dark vertical bar (Ref. 58960). Colour in life of females: body pale olive-brown, darker grey-brown dorsally; light brown to almost silvery-white ventrally; flank scales with light blue iridescence; unpaired and paired fins hyaline; iris golden, with a faint dark vertical bar (Ref. 58960). Colour in alcohol of males: body scales light brown to whitish, almost all scales with distinct dark red margin; dorsal fin light brown with a pattern dark brown spots; anal fin light brown; caudal fin light brown with dark red lines extending on fin rays; pelvic and pectoral fins light brown; iris bluish (Ref. 58960). Colour in alcohol of females: body light brown to whitish, scales with a narrow brown margin; opercular and ventral area yellowish to light orange; unpaired and paired fins pale light brown to whitish; iris bluish (Ref. 58960). |
