Morphology Data of Nothobranchius seegersi
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Valdesalici, S. and K. Kardashev, 2011
Appearance refers to Male; Female
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors always different colors between mature adults
Remarks Females are smaller than males, maximum observed size 54.7 mm standard length; in females, the dorsal fin is rounded, the anal fin is triangular with rounded tip; branchiostegal membrane not projecting from opercle (Ref. 87047).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales cycloid scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Males of Nothobranchius seegersi share with the other members of the Nothobranchius neumanni species group a combination of colouration characters, which distinguish them from all other species of the genus: caudal fin red or partially red; pectoral fin hyaline; anal fin yellow with red stripes, proximal portion light bluish grey (Ref. 87047). It is distinguihed from N. neumanni by bright light blue scales, vs. pale bluish grey; an irregular pattern formed by red scale margins on lateral body and head vs. uniform; and a single, blue male colour morph, vs. two colour morphs, blue and red; both male and female of N. seegersi have a relatively higher predorsal length compared to N. neumanni, 60.3-68.8 vs. 54.8-61.0% of standard length in males, 68.0-68.4 vs. 57.1-64.6% of standard length in females (Ref. 87047). Based on osteological characters, Nothobranchius seegersi differs from N. neumanni by having a conspicuously longer lateral process of the post-temporal, and by having short antero-dorsal process of the urohyal (Ref. 87047).

Description: A robust Nothobranchius with rounded body, maximum length recorded in males 62.0 mm standard length; dorsal profile straight to slightly concave on head, convex from nape to end of dorsal fin base; ventral profile convex, slightly concave on caudal peduncle posterior to dorsal and anal fin (Ref. 87047). Snout slightly pointed, mouth directed upwards, lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of rictus at same level as or slightly above centre of eye; branchiostegal membrane projecting posteriorly from opercle (Ref. 87047). Dorsal and anal fin located far posterior, tips rounded with short filamentous rays; both fins with papillate contact organs on fin rays; dorsal fin tip reaching caudal fin; number of dorsal fin rays 16-17, anal fin rays 17-18; pectoral fin approximately triangular; in some specimens pectoral fins reach pelvic fins, and pelvic fins reach the anal fin origin; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 87047). Scales cycloid, body and head entirely scaled, except for ventral surface of head; scales in median lateral series 28-34 + 3-5 on caudal fin base (Ref. 87047). Cephalic squamation pattern variable; anterior neuromast series of the 'open' type; central supra-orbital series in shallow grooves, each with two or three neuromasts; posterior cephalic neuromast series curved with three or four neuromasts; one neuromast on each scale of median longitudinal series (Ref. 87047). Basihyal bone sub-triangular; six branchiostegal rays; vomerine teeth present in a large patch; lateral process of post-temporal long; single short antero-dorsal process of urohyal; number of vertebrae 31-32; premaxilla and dentary with many irregularly distributed unicuspid, slightly curved teeth of different size, a small number of larger ones on the outer row of upper and lower jaw (Ref. 87047).

Colouration: Colouration in life of males: scales on body and head bright light blue with very thin and variable red margin, creating an irregular reticulated pattern on body and head; branchiostegal membrane light blue with white margin; dorsal fin grey greenish to grey bluish with irregular rows of dark red spots proximally, which become elongate over fin rays distally; anal fin bright yellow with light blue base, separated by a dark red narrow stripe or row of dark red irregular spots, and black margin; some specimens with a median dark red narrow stripe or row of dark red irregular spots in anal fin; a sub-distal light blue narrow stripe present in anal fin of some specimens; pelvic fins yellow with red spots; pectoral fins hyaline with light blue margin; caudal fin dark red, with black margin and light blue submargin; iris golden, with faint black vertical bar through centre of eye (Ref. 87047). Colouration in life for females: scales on body and head pale greyish blue, with golden to light blue iridescence on scale centre; opercular region silvery to golden; abdomen silvery to golden; all fins hyaline; iris golden, with faint black vertical bar through centre of eye (Ref. 87047). Preserved colouration of males: scales on body light brown to whitish, almost all scales on frontal and dorsal area with distinct dark red margin, ventral scales with irregular dark red spots; dorsal fin whitish with dark red to brown spots; anal fin pale yellowish with light brown to whitish base, separated by an irregular stripe formed by dark red to brown spots, black margin; some specimens with a median dark red to brown narrow stripe or row of dark red irregular spots in anal fin; pelvic fins yellowish with dark red proximal spots and distal black spots; pectoral fins hyaline; caudal fin dark red, with black margin and distinct yellowish submargin; iris bluish (Ref. 87047). Preserved colouration in females: body light brown to whitish; opercular and ventral area yellowish; unpaired and paired fins whitish; iris bluish (Ref. 87047).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Nothobranchius seegersi

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 31 - 39
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 31 - 32

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 16 - 17
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 17 - 18

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
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