Aphyosemion bivittatum

Aphyosemion bivittatum
Aphyosemion bivittatum Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Aplocheilidae
Genus: Aphyosemion
Species: A. bivittatum
Binomial name
Aphyosemion bivittatum
(Lönnberg, 1895)
Synonyms
  • Chromaphyosemion bivittatum (Lönnberg, 1895)
  • Fundulus bivittatus (Lönnberg, 1895)

Aphyosemion bivittatum (twostripe lyretail, two-banded killi, red lyretail) is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in rivers in southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon.[2][1] It was originally described as Fundulus bivittatus by Swedish zoologist Einar Lönnberg in 1895. The holotype was discovered near a waterfall in the Ndian River in Cameroon and currently is located in the Stockholm Museum.[3]

Appearance

A. bivittatum has an elongated, brightly-coloured body with two dark bands made up of red spots running along each side, with the colors varying between populations.[4] Individual males are commonly found with golden-brown dorsal surfaces, bluish sides, and golden ventral surfaces.[4] The males have a maximum body length of approximately 5 centimetres (2.0 in) and have brightly-marked, tall and pointed anal and dorsal fins that are yellow to pastel green with red edges.[4] The caudal and dorsal fins are green with red spots and bright yellow tips.[4] It has 10–13 spines in its dorsal fin and 12–15 in its anal fin.[5]

Habitat

The species is found in small calcium rich steams in the coastal rainforests of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon. They are benthopelagic, meaning they float just above the riverbed.[1] They prefer water with a pH of 6 to 6.5 and temperature of 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F).[6][2]

A bivittatum has only been observed in five locations and it is thought that they are present in no more than ten. This, along with the threat to their habitat from deforestation, has led them to be classified as vulnerable.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lalèyè, P.; Olaosebikan, B.D. (2010). "Aphyosemion bivittatum". IUCN 2016. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016.2. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Aphyosemion bivittatum (Lönnberg, 1895)". Fish Base. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Aphyosemiom bivittatum (Lönnberg 1895)". Killifish of Western Africa. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Butler, Rhett. "Two Stripe Killifish Aphyosemion bivittatum". Mongabay.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  5. ↑ 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: 399.
  6. ↑ Riehl, R.; H.A. Baensch, (1991). Aquarien Atlas Volume 1. Germany: Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde. p. 992.

External links

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