Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335); cooperi: The specific epithet is given in honour of Barry J. Cooper, renowned collector and breeder of killifish, for his significant contributions to the field study of Nothobranchius and to the killifish hobby in general; a noun in genitive (Ref. 117281).
Eponymy: Barry J Cooper is an American aquarist who collects and breeds killifish. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 6.2 - 6.4. Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 117281)
Africa: upper reaches of Mansa River, tributary of Luapula River, and seasonal Lufimba system, flowing into Lake Bangeulu, in Zambia (Ref. 117281).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 117281)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16; Vertebrae: 26 - 27. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius cooperi belongs to the Nothobranchius brieni species group (Ref. 117281). With the exception of N. rosenstocki and N. sainthousei, it is distinguished from all other species of that group by having broad orange, vs. red brown, posterior scale margins on the trunk and anal fin, with a uniform orange-red margin, vs. light blue, yellow, red-brown or black margin (Ref. 117281). It is distinguished from N. sainthousei by having an anal fin that is uniform orange-red with an irregular to regular, light blue-green zone close to the base, vs. orange-brown spots and orange-brown margin, and a wider, more prominent light blue marginal band to the caudal fin; head length 32.5-36.2% of standard length vs. 25.1-29.3%; prepectoral length 32.5-36.2% of standard length vs. 25.1-29.4%; and head width 70-77% of its depth vs. 79-86% (Ref. 117281). It is distinguished from N. rosenstocki by having a prepelvic length 48.8-51.9% of standard length vs. 45.1-49.0%; and a head depth 75-77% of head length vs. 78-84% (Ref. 117281). Furthermore, the species is characterised by a caudal peduncle length 1.2-1.3 times its depth, compared to 1.4-1.5 times in N. sainthousei, and 1.6 times in N. rosenstocki (Ref. 117281).
It is a micropredator, feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton (Ref. 117281). The species appears to qualify as vulnerable (B1bii) according to IUCN criteria (Ref. 117281).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nagy, B., B.R. Watters, P.D.W. van der Merve, F.P.D. Cotterill and D.U. Bellstedt, 2017. Nothobranchius cooperi (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes): a new species of annual killifish from the Luapula River drainage, northern Zambia. African Journal of Aquatic Science 42(3):201-218. (Ref. 117281)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00472 - 0.02669), b=2.94 (2.74 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
