Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.2; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 12468)
Africa: lower Volta, Dayi and Ofu rivers in Ghana (Ref. 57259); Sassandra, Comoé, Bandama and Cavally rivers in Côte d'Ivoire (Ref. 57259); St. John's and Douobe rivers in Liberia (Ref. 57259). There is also an unconfirmed record in the Volta River in Burkina Faso (Ref. 57259).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57259); 4.0 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17. Diagnosis: A ‘lampeye’ species of moderate size with relatively long, truncated or rounded unpaired fins; dorsal fin with 8-12 rays, anal fin with 13-17 rays, displacement between dorsal and anal fins 1/5-8; scales on mid-lateral series 25-27 (Ref. 57259).
Colouration: Male colouration: overall body colour is grey to pale olive with a strong light blue iridescence on the sides; the iridescence is especially prominent in the region between the eye and the frontal base of the dorsal fin; the scales on the sides and back have narrow brown to dark grey borders, producing a reticulated appearance; the colour of the unpaired fins is highly variable, depending on the population, and may be yellow, orange or red; some populations display red or brown margins on the unpaired fins; also variable between populations is the presence or absence of spots on the unpaired fins; when present, these are arranged in vague lines in the dorsal and anal fins, and in crescent-shaped bars in the caudal fin (Ref. 57259). Female colouration: translucent grey overall, brown on the back and silver in the abdominal region; the unpaired fins are colourless or pale yellow; the anal fin is relatively long and somewhat pointed (Ref. 57259). Both sexes have a distinct light blue reflecting spot in the upper part of the iris (Ref. 57259).
Found in small rivers, brooks and swamps of the forested savannah (Ref. 3788, 57259). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Huber, J.H., 1999. Updates to the phylogeny and systematics of the African lampeye schooling cyprinodonts (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilichthyinae). Cybium 23(1):53-77. (Ref. 30546)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this 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).