| Family: |
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines) |
| Max. size: |
2.97 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, |
| Distribution: |
Africa: only known from the Pama River, a small tributary of the Nyong River in Cameroon (Ref. 93722). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-15. Diagnosis: Aphyosemion pamaense belongs to the subgenus Chromaphyosemion as it is characterized by the presence of two dark lateral bands in both sexes, these bands may disappear in males depending on the mood of the fish; the caudal fin is shaped with pronounced dorsal and ventral streamers in males; streamers are also present in the dorsal and anal fins; the species is also characterized by 9-14 dorsal rays, and 11-16 anal rays (Ref. 93722). It differs from all other Chromaphyosemion species by the following combination of characters observed in males: orange background of the unpaired fins, anal without any spots, orange throat, purple to blue-grey flanks (Ref. 93722).
Description: Lateral line scales 25(+1) to 28(+3); 13-14 predorsal scales; 7-10 transversal scales (Ref. 93722).
Colouration: (1) Live males. The anterior part of the body, from the lower jaw to the pelvic fins, is orange; this colouration tapers at the beginning of the anal fin (Ref. 93722). The lower lip is bluish, the area below the eye is purplish blue with a thin red horizontal line; the opercular spot is barely visible while there are three oblique and sinuous red lines just behind the eye (Ref. 93722). Sides are blue-grey, blue or purple depending on the mood or light intensity; there are two rows of paradorsal red scales from the operculum to the caudal peduncle on a yellow bright orange background; two other less visible red lines are on the flanks, from the operculum to the mid body; the ventral region close to the caudal peduncle is underlined with 12 or 13 red dots (Ref. 93722). The dorsal fin has an orange centre on a greenish background, there are rows of carmine red spots between the rays and streaks close to the edges, especially at the apex of the posterior side are visible; anal fin is intense orange without any spots with a blue marginal band and a red submarginal band topped with a very fine yellow green band; the background of the tail is yellow-green, distally blue; upper and lower lobes are orange in the adult specimens; very long red small streaks are present starting from the caudal fin base to the edges; four to five red spots are barely visible at the base of the peduncle; a submarginal red band and a blue marginal band are present on the lower margin; acumens at the apex of the unpaired fins are orange yellow; pectoral fins are translucent with blue white reflections on the edges; the colour pattern of pelvic fins is identical to that of anal fins an orange background with a red submarginal band and a blue marginal band (Ref. 93722). The two dark lateral stripes are rarely seen in males of this species (Ref. 93722).
(2) Live females. The body is brownish with five or six rows of red dots from post-ocular area to the caudal peduncle; the ventral region is orange-pink with blue-grey highlights on the sides (Ref. 93722). Three red and oblique sinuous lines in the opercular area are visible; the lower jaw is blue grey; there is a red line below the eye (Ref. 93722). Dorsal fin is yellow green with lines of red dots between the rays; anal fin is bluish with yellow-green reflections in the anterior part, three to four red dots hardly visible; caudal fin is greyish-blue with six or seven small red streaks on the median part of the fin from the caudal fin base to the edges, the dorsal part has six rows of red spots between the rays, the ventral part is yellowish and without any spots; pectorals are translucent, with blue white reflections on the edges (Ref. 93722). |
| Biology: |
It inhabits a small stream in the forest, about 3 m wide and 0.4 m deep with a muddy or sandy bottom (Ref. 93722). Other cyprinodontiforms species found in syntopy are Epiplatys infrafasciatus, Aphyosemion edeanum, and Procatopus similis (Ref. 93722). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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