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Nothobranchius melanospilus (Pfeffer, 1896)

Blackspotted nothobranch
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Image of Nothobranchius melanospilus (Blackspotted nothobranch)
Nothobranchius melanospilus
Female picture by R A Hill ARPS

Classification / Names Noms communs | Synonymes | Catalog of Fishes(Genre, Espèce) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> 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 Écologie

; eau douce benthopélagique; non migrateur. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059)

Distribution Pays | Zones FAO | Écosystèmes | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: Unguja Island, Zanzibar archipelago, and adjacent mainland coastal rivers in eastern Tanzania (Ref. 83514, 122075); also reported from Umba and Ramisi rivers in Kenya (Ref. 83514).

Taille / Poids / Âge

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm SL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 122075); 5.3 cm SL (female)

Description synthétique Clés d'identification | Morphologie | Morphométrie

Épines dorsales (Total) : 0; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total) : 15 - 17; Épines anales: 0; Rayons mous anaux: 16 - 19; Vertèbres: 30 - 32. Diagnosis: Distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following character states: caudal fin red with black posterior margin in males, narrow white margin to dorsal and anal fins, and silver iris; posterior portion of flank and unpaired fins with black spots in females; pre-dorsal length in males 62.4-65.1% of standard length; 5 + 15-16 gill-rakers on first branchial arch; 29-31 scales in longitudinal series; 16-18 series of scales around caudal peduncle; two longitudinal rows of scales between anterior supraorbital series of neuromasts; anterior supraorbital series of neuromasts arranged continuously, with four well-developed neuromasts; four neuromasts in posterior supraorbital series; 29-31 caudal-fin rays; 30-31 vertebrae; second proximal radial of dorsal fin between neural spines of 13th and 15th vertebrae (Ref. 83514, 122075). This species differs from Nothobranchius lucius in having a plain red caudal fin with narrow margin at the upper and lower corners in male (Ref. 83514).

Biologie     Glossaire (ex. epibenthic)

Found 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 Maturité | Reproduction | Frai | Œufs | Fécondité | Larves

Annual fishes.

Référence principale Upload your references | Références | Coordinateur | Collaborateurs

Costa, W.J.E.M., 2017. Taxonomic revision of the seasonal killifish genus Nothobranchius from Zanzibar, East Africa (Cyprinodontoidei: Aplocheilidae). J. Nat. Hist. 51(27/28):1-16. (Ref. 122075)

Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

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