Aphyosemion gabunense Radda 1975

Meaning of Name

After the country they inhabit - Gabon. This was formerly a German colony hence the spelling Gabun.

First Description

Radda A.C. 1975.

Contribution to the knowledge of Cyprinodonts of Gabon, with the description of four new species and one new subspecies of the genus Aphyosemion Myers.

Killi-News 118 (seperate): 17-18, figure 11. BKA.

Size

5 cm

Meristics

D = 11-12, A = 13, ll = 28 (+2-3) (Radda 1975) (D/A = +6 ?)

Karyotype

n = 19, A = 26 (Scheel 1990)

Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion

Group

striatum

Synonyms

Aphyosemion gabunense gabunense Radda & Huber 1977

Populations
  • Assiss
  • Baraka
  • Lambaréné (30 km southeast of, northwestern Gabon)
  • Fougamou
  • G 76/32 near to Issinga.
  • G 80/12
  • GBG 93 / 30
  • GBG 93 / 35
  • GBL 85 / 7

A.gabunense circulating in the US around 1980. Photo courtesy of Lennie MacKowiak.

Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

A.gabunense collected south of Lambarene. Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

G80 / 12 - First introduced to the BKA by Species Import Committee in September 1981.

Type Locality

Small stream between Lambaréné & Fougamou on NR 1 (National Road). Approximately 30 km southeast of Lambaréné towards Mouila; northwest Gabon. Found with Aphyosemion ogoense.

Distribution

A small area in the region of Bifoum, north western Gabon in the lower Ogowe & lower N'goumé River drainages. Northerly they are replaced by Aphyosemion striatum. South, they are replaced by the A.exigoideum group.

Habitat

Coastal rainforest swamps & brooks.

Distinguishing Characteristics 
Colour/Pattern VariabilityLow
History

Discovered by the German collector Herr Herzog in the later months of 1973 in a small stream in primary rainforest between Lambaréné & Fougamou near the Route National No.1, 30 kms south west of Lambaréné.

In the early part of 1975 Fred Wright (BKA) had this sp. was unsure of its identity. Radda was visiting at the time & identified them as he had described them as a new sp. in this year.

Collected by Huber & Radda in 1976 near Issinga, 43 kms from Fougamou towards Lambaréné.

Breeding Notes

Eggs laid in top mops. Early breeding reports in the BKA suggested they lay in the top most part of floating mops. Spawning occurs in periods so a period of seperation would be beneficial. The clear eggs water incubate for 18-22 days at 72°F. Fry accept newly hatched brine shrimp. Growth rate is quite slow with sexual maturity being reached in 5-6 months & full size around 8-9 months.
Eggs were dry stored for 14-21 days successfully

Diameter of Egg 
Remarks