Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.2 - ? ; dH range: 6 - ?; non-migratory. Tropical; 18°C - 24°C (Ref. 2059)
Africa: seasonal pools of Wembere River system in central Tanzania (Ref. 122068). Also reported from Malagarazi River, Lake Rukwa and Lake Victoria drainages in Tanzania (Ref. 27139, 59344), but these reports might refer to other species (Ref. 122098). Reports from Bubu River (Ref. 26713, 106076) refer to Nothobranchius angelae (Ref. 122068). Probably introduced for mosquito control in several localities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia (Ref. 3788, 59344, 106076).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 122068); 3.1 cm SL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius taeniopygus is distinguished from all other species of the genus by the following combination of characters in males: body colouration light blue with red-brown scale margins; anal fin light blue-grey to yellow-grey with irregular brown spots, narrow brown submedial band, slender cream to yellow medial band, narrow yellow to white subdistal band and a broad black distal band; caudal fin light yellow-grey with brown stripes proximally, followed by a narrow brown medial band, a slender white subdistal band and a broad black distal band; pelvic fins brown, with slender cream to yellow medial band and narrow black distal band (Ref. 122068). Furthermore, it differs from the other members of the Nothobranchius taeniopygus species group in central and western Tanzania by a postorbital length of 43-46% of head length vs. 46-63%; and snout to eye end length 54-57% of head length vs. 37-54% (Ref. 122068).
Seasonal fish with very short life span, typical species of steppe and savannah which need long dry season (Ref. 27292). Occurs in swamps and restwater pools of river floodplains (Ref. 79882), in ditches and despressions in floodplains (Ref. 59344). Bottom spawner (Ref. 79882). Incubation of eggs in captivity is 3-6 months and young fish reach maturity in 6-7 weeks (Ref. 59344). Specimens from central Tanzania introduced in various localities in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and other countries, for mosquito control (Ref. 59344).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Watters, B.R., B. Nagy, P.D.W. van der Merwe, F.P.D. Cotteril and D.U. Bellstedt, 2019. Review of the Nothobranchius taeniopygus species group from central and western Tanzania with descriptions of five new species and redescription of Nothobranchius taeniopygus (Teleostei: Nothobranchiidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 29(3):239-278. (Ref. 122068)
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 = 0.5000 [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): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
