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Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Procatopodidae (African lampeyes) > Procatopodinae
Eponymy: Jørgen Jacob Scheel (1916–1989) was a Danish ichthyologist who specialised in the Aplocheiloidei. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 5.8 - 7.2; non-migratory. Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 12468)
Africa: along coast from southwestern Nigeria eastward across Niger River delta to border with Cameroon (Ref. 57259); lower Lomé and Kienke drainages in southwestern Cameroon (Ref. 3788); and Rio Utonde and Rio Benito drainages in Equatorial Guinea (Ref. 3788).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139); 2.5 cm TL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Diagnosis: Small ‘Lampeye’ with relatively long fins; dorsal, anal and caudal fins of the male trapezoid, upper lobe of caudal fin enlarged; ventral fins with extremely long second and third rays that may reach to the caudal fin base; dorsal-fin with 6-8 rays, anal fin with 12-14 rays; first dorsal fin ray above or just behind last anal fin ray; scales on mid-longitudinal series 24-27 (Ref. 57259).
Colouration: Male colouration: body is yellow-grey to pale olive, the ventral area being silver; the sides with a light blue iridescence of dust fine spots; the iridescence is most intense on the anterior part of the side; iridescent spots not arranged in horizontal lines or bands; scales on the back and the upper parts of the sides with a narrow dark grey margin, producing a weak reticulation; dorsal fin is very pale yellow to transparent with rows of dark red-brown spots; anal fin very pale yellow to transparent with horizontal rows of dark red-brown spots; the caudal fin is pale yellow with curved rows of dark red spots; two colour phenotypes can be identified, a white and an orange, according to the colour of the margins at the dorsal and anal fin, upper and lower caudal fin and the colour of the extended ventral fins; in the adult male the ventral fins may extend to the end of the caudal peduncle (Ref. 57259). Female colouration: translucent pale grey with silver abdominal region; some small golden spots may be present on the sides, usually on or near the mid-lateral line; scales on the sides have very narrow grey edgings; all fins are colourless, ventral fins not extended (Ref. 57259). Both sexes have a distinct reflective blue spot in the upper part of the iris (Ref. 57259).
Found in rivers and brooks, mostly in weedy areas and under forest cover in river drainages (Ref. 3788); also brackish water, river mouths, lagoons and estuaries along the coast (Ref. 57259). Not a seasonal killifish. Is very difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Wildekamp, R.H. and F.J. Malumbres, 2004. Identification of Micropanchax scheeli (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae: Aplocheilichthyinae) with a description of a new species of the genus Poropanchax. Cybium 28(1):61-67. (Ref. 52760)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00562 (0.00222 - 0.01425), b=3.07 (2.85 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
![Image of Poropanchax scheeli (Scheel\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Misch_u0.jpg "Image of Poropanchax scheeli (Scheel\")
