Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr R G Kirk was a fish biologist working for the Agricultural Research Services, Ministry of Natural Resources, Malawi, where he discovered this species. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: 4 - 10; non-migratory. Tropical; 20°C - 23°C (Ref. 1672)
Africa: Lake Chilwa and Lake Chiuta drainage systems, Malawi (Ref. 91043, 92979).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139)
Found in temporary swamps, pools and ditches on floodplains associated with Lake Chilwa and Lake Chiuta systems (Ref. 59344). Bottom spawner, 4 months incubation; is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Huber, J.H., 1996. Killi-Data 1996. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Atherinomorpha, Pisces). Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, 399 p. (Ref. 27139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
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