Aphyosemion punctatum Radda & Pürzl 1977

A.punctatum circulating in the US around 1980. Photo: Courtesy of Lennie MacKowiak

Meaning of Name

Refers to the red spots punctuating the body.
First Description

Radda A.C. & Pürzl E. 1977

Cyprinodontiden Studien in Gabon II. Nordgabun.

Aquaria 24 : p 29-31, figure 8.
Size

4.5 cm
Meristics

D = 11-12, A = 15-16, D/A = +8, ll = 29-30 (+2-3) (Radda & Pürzl 1977)
Karyotype

n = 12 , A = 24 (Scheel 1990)
Sub-Genus

Aphyosemion
Group

wildekampi
Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion striatum ogoense (non Pellegrin 1930) Lambert & Géry 1968
  • Aphyosemion spec aff. wildekampi (non Berkenkamp 1973) Radda 1975
  • Aphyosemion ogoense (non Pellegrin 1930) Bochtler & Heinrich 1977
  • Aphyosemion punctatum Radda & Pürzl 1977
  • Aphyosemion wildekampi punctatum Hannink 1982

 
Populations
  • Ekelemba
  • Koulamoutou (northern Gabon)
  • Koumameyong (northern Gabon)
  • Makokou (northern Gabon)
  • Mékambo
  • Ovan (northern Gabon)
  • Zoolendé

Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

Ovan Gabon.Wild male.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl

Zoolendé Gabon. Wild male.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl
Type Locality

Close to the Catholic mission of Makokou.
Distribution

Northern Gabon, from Makokou extending eastwards towards northern Congo.
Habitat

Rainforest brooks of the Ivindo River drainage system.
See also A.georgiae under 'Habitat'. Collected with A.georgiae & A.cyanostictum by Roland Numerich in February 1987. He reported a 'very beautiful red form' from this biotope but none were brought back alive. BKA Killi-News No.296 (May 1980) contains a sketch of the biotopes & what was caught in each area. In this sketch A.punctatum is seen to inhabit small pools at the side of the main stream. These are most probably flood pools. These were visibly cloudy with a skin of golden red mould on the surface caused by the high iron content of the water. This is obviously why the fish were described as a'very beautiful red form'.
Distinguishing Characteristics Few red spots on the body, mostly in the upper half. Caudal fin has outer margins top & bottom of red but often these do not reach the outer vertical edge as a thick continuous band, petering out in this area.
Colour/Pattern Variability Medium
History

J.Lambert was informed of a collection of fish under the name A.striatum ogoense from Makokou on the Ivindu River. He observed differences in the pattern & colouration between the 2 forms.
Radda also received material from Bochtler in January 1974 collected at Makokou, north western Gabon near to the Catholic Mission. These were considered to be similar to A.wildekampi & were assigned the name A.spec.aff.wildekampi in 1975.
It was later classified as a seperate sp. by Radda & Pürzl in 1977 as A.punctatum.
The Koulamoutou population is more southerly on the du Chaillu Massif.
Breeding Notes

Regarded as a difficult species to breed. Water incubation 12-14 days. Young are slow growers taking 7-8 months to reach sexual maturity.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks