Nothobranchius
Encyclopedia
Nothobranchius is a genus
of freshwater annual fish from East Africa
in the family
Nothobranchiidae
which was long included in the Aplocheilidae
. Many species
have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies
. They are a typical annual killifish
, part of the order
Cyprinodontiformes
. The vertebrate
with the shortest life span
is a member of this genus, Nothobranchius furzeri
from Mozambique
and Zimbabwe
lives for between 3 and 6 months. In that time it hatches, matures, breeds and dies.
Etymology
: Greek "nothos": false, spurious, and "branchia": gill
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of freshwater annual fish from East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Nothobranchiidae
Nothobranchiidae
Nothobranchiidae are a family of bony fishes containing roughly 300 species. They are small killifish, usually measuring about . They are essentially limited to Africa, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae...
which was long included in the Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...
. Many species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. They are a typical annual killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
, part of the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Cyprinodontiformes
Cyprinodontiformes
The Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, fresh-water fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them...
. The vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
with the shortest life span
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
is a member of this genus, Nothobranchius furzeri
Nothobranchius furzeri
The turquoise killifish is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae branch of the Cyprinodontiformes order. This annual fish inhabits ephemeral pools in semi-arid areas with scarce and erratic precipitations and have adapted to the routine drying of their environment by evolving...
from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
lives for between 3 and 6 months. In that time it hatches, matures, breeds and dies.
Etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
: Greek "nothos": false, spurious, and "branchia": gill
Gill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
.
Species
- Nothobranchius albimarginatusNothobranchius albimarginatusNothobranchius albimarginatus is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are intermittent rivers and shrub-dominated wetlands.-Source:...
Watters, Wildekamp & Cooper, 1998 - Nothobranchius annectensNothobranchius annectensNothobranchius annectens is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are shrub-dominated wetlands and swamps.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Watters, Wildekamp & Cooper, 1998 - Boji Plains nothobranchBoji Plains nothobranchThe Boji Plains nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Nothobranchius bojiensis Wildekamp & Haas, 1992 - Nothobranchius brieni Poll, 1938
- Nothobranchius cyaneus Seegers, 1981
- Nothobranchius eggersiNothobranchius eggersiNothobranchius eggersi is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes....
Seegers, 1982 - Elongate nothobranchElongate nothobranchThe elongate nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Nothobranchius elongatus Wildekamp, 1982 - Nothobranchius fasciatus Wildekamp & Haas, 1992
- Nothobranchius flammicomantisNothobranchius flammicomantisNothobranchius flammicomantis is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp, Watters & Sainthouse, 1998 - Nothobranchius foerschiNothobranchius foerschiNothobranchius foerschi is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp & Berkenkamp, 1979 - Turquoise killifishNothobranchius furzeriThe turquoise killifish is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae branch of the Cyprinodontiformes order. This annual fish inhabits ephemeral pools in semi-arid areas with scarce and erratic precipitations and have adapted to the routine drying of their environment by evolving...
, Nothobranchius furzeriNothobranchius furzeriThe turquoise killifish is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae branch of the Cyprinodontiformes order. This annual fish inhabits ephemeral pools in semi-arid areas with scarce and erratic precipitations and have adapted to the routine drying of their environment by evolving...
Jubb, 1971 - Nothobranchius fuscotaeniatusNothobranchius fuscotaeniatusNothobranchius fuscotaeniatus is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Seegers, 1997 - Nothobranchius geminusNothobranchius geminusNothobranchius geminus is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp, Watters & Sainthouse, 2002 - Redtail nothoRedtail nothoThe redtail notho is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are intermittent rivers and intermittent freshwater marshes. The redtail notho eats mosquito larvae. Scientists believe that if they introduce it in some of Africa's major bodies of...
, Nothobranchius guentheri (Pfeffer, 1893) - Nothobranchius hassoni Valdesalici & Wildekamp, 2004
- Nothobranchius hengstleri Valdesalici, 2007
- Kikambala nothobranchKikambala nothobranchThe kikambala nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are swamps and freshwater marshes....
, Nothobranchius interruptus Wildekamp & Berkenkamp, 1979 - Nothobranchius janpapiNothobranchius janpapiNothobranchius janpapi is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are intermittent rivers and intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:...
Wildekamp, 1977 - Nothobranchius jubbiNothobranchius jubbiNothobranchius jubbi is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp & Berkenkamp, 1979 - Nothobranchius kadleci Reichard, 2010
- Kafue killifish, Nothobranchius kafuensis Wildekamp & Rosenstock, 1989
- Nothobranchius kilomberoensisNothobranchius kilomberoensisNothobranchius kilomberoensis is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp, Watters & Sainthouse, 2002 - Redfin nothoRedfin nothoNothobranchius kirki, the redfin notho or Kirk's killifish, is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes and intermittent freshwater marshes....
, Nothobranchius kirki Jubb, 1969 - Nothobranchius kiyawensis Ahl, 1928
- Nothobranchius korthausaeNothobranchius korthausaeNothobranchius korthausae is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is swamps.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Meinken, 1973 - Beira killifish, Nothobranchius kuhntae (Ahl, 1926)
- Nothobranchius lourensiNothobranchius lourensiNothobranchius lourensi is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp, 1977 - Nothobranchius luekeiNothobranchius luekeiNothobranchius luekei is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Seegers, 1984 - Nothobranchius malaissei Wildekamp, 1978
- Blackspotted nothobranchBlackspotted nothobranchThe blackspotted nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are intermittent rivers, intermittent freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes....
, Nothobranchius melanospilus (Pfeffer, 1896) - Small scaled nothobranchSmall scaled nothobranchThe small scaled nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:...
, Nothobranchius microlepis (Vinciguerra, 1897) - Nothobranchius neumanniNothobranchius neumanniNothobranchius neumanni is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, and inland deltas. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Hilgendorf, 1905) - Nothobranchius nubaensis Bellemans, 2003
- Nothobranchius ocellatusNothobranchius ocellatusNothobranchius ocellatus is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
(Seegers, 1985) - Spotted killifishSpotted killifishThe spotted killifish, Nothobranchius orthonotus, is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Nothobranchius orthonotus (Peters, 1844) - Nothobranchius palmqvistiNothobranchius palmqvistiNothobranchius palmqvisti is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are swamps and intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
(Lönnberg, 1907) - Blue nothoBlue nothoThe Blue notho, or Patrizi's notho is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya, Somalia, and East Africa. Its natural habitat is freshwater marshes. The males are usually around 5.5 cm. while females are only 4 cm. The females lay their eggs on bottom...
, Nothobranchius patrizii (Vinciguerra, 1927) - Nothobranchius polli Wildekamp, 1978
- Bluefin notho, Nothobranchius rachoviiNothobranchius rachovii- Introduction :Nothobranchius rachovii is a species of freshwater annual killifish from Mozambique. It can grow up to 6 cm...
Ahl, 1926 - Red victoria nothobranchRed victoria nothobranchThe red victoria nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, and intermittent freshwater marshes....
, Nothobranchius robustus Ahl, 1935 - Nothobranchius rosenstocki Valdesalici & Wildekamp, 2005
- Nothobranchius rubripinnisNothobranchius rubripinnisNothobranchius rubripinnis is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are rivers and swamps.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Seegers, 1986 - Nothobranchius rubroreticulatus Blache & Miton, 1960
- Nothobranchius steinfortiNothobranchius steinfortiNothobranchius steinforti is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Wildekamp, 1977 - Nothobranchius symoensi Wildekamp, 1978
- Striped nothobranchStriped nothobranchThe Striped Nothobranch is a ray-finned fish species in the family Nothobranchiidae. Its family was formerly included in the Aplocheilidae, but it is not as closely related to Aplocheilus as was long believed....
, Nothobranchius taeniopygus Hilgendorf, 1891 - Togo Killifish, Nothobranchius thierryi (Ahl, 1924)
- Uganda nothobranchUganda nothobranchThe Uganda nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is found in Kenya and Uganda. Its natural habitat is intermittent freshwater marshes.-References:...
, Nothobranchius ugandensis Wildekamp, 1994 - Nothobranchius virgatus Chambers, 1984
- Pangani nothobranch, Nothobranchius vosseleri Ahl, 1924
- Mnanzini nothobranchMnanzini nothobranchThe mnanzini nothobranch is a species of fish in the Aplocheilidae family. It is endemic to Kenya.-Source:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
, Nothobranchius willerti Wildekamp, 1992
External links
- Killifish – maintenance, breeding, conservation: Nothobranchius species list and images. Not complete but a nice outline of how the species generally look.