Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335); capriviensis: The species name capriviensis represents a toponym after the Caprivi Strip, the historical name for the narrow extension of northeastern Namibia, where this species occurs; this part of Namibia was originally named after the German statesman Count Leo von Caprivi (Ref. 116076).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical
Africa: eastern part of the Zambezi Region of Namibia (Ref. 116076).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116076)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius capriviensis is known only as blue form, in contrast to N. kafuensis, its closest relative, that occurs as red, blue and intermediate forms; while there are general similarities in male colouration between N. capriviensis and the blue form of N. kafuensis, there are also consistent differences: the male N. capriviensis can be distinguished by the paler shade of blue than the blue phenotype of N. kafuensis, the lack of orange-red scale margins and the orange-red colour on the head of the latter species, and a more prominent and consistent barring on the body of the former; differences in female colouration are not as obvious: scale centers of N. capriviensis are iridescent light blue, whereas those of female N. kafuensis are less prominently blue and have a silver hue (Ref. 116076). Morphologically and meristically, the male N. capriviensis differs from that of N. kafuensis by a deeper body, its mean 35.4% of standard length vs. 31.4%, longer head, its mean 32.5% of standard length vs. 30.7%, a more posterior position of the anal fin, pre-anal length 62.3% of standard length vs. 60.5%, and a higher number of scales around the caudal peduncle, 14-16 vs. 13-14; female N. capriviensis have a more posterior position of the anal fin, pre-anal length 63.9% of standard length vs. 66.8%, when compared with N. kafuensis
Found in large, relatively shallow ephemeral pools, which dry up completely on a seasonal basis (Ref. 116076). Eggs deposited in the mud substrate by the adult fish survive therein through the dry season, experiencing a number of phases of development with intervening diapauses; the eggs then hatch at the onset of the rainy season; growth of the fry is rapid and sexual maturity may be attained within four to six weeks (Ref. 116076).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Watters, B.R., R.H. Wildekamp and K.M. Shidlovskiy, 2015. Description and biogeography of Nothobranchius capriviensis, a new species of annual killifish from the Zambezi Region of Namibia (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae). J. Am. Killifish Ass. 47(4-6):97-133. (Ref. 116076)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Endangered (EN) (B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v)); Date assessed: 20 October 2018
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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