THE NOTHOBRANCHIUS SITE

MRAC B4-18-P-1, holotype, male, 38.9 mm SL; Sudan: Southern Kordofan: Wad el Mileisa, 10°45'44" N, 31°07'12" E; collected by M. Bellemans, December 1999.

MSNG 57815 (11, 2 c&s)

Nothobranchius bellemansi can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the following unique combination of characters: 18–21 dorsal fin rays; 19–21 anal fin rays; 29–30 scales in the longitudinal series; short pelvic fin, tip reaching the anus; terminal portion of the snout on the ventral profile pointed; red spots on the median portions of the unpaired fins in both males and females (Valdesalici 2014).

The proximal and median parts of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins have irregular red-brown spots, a light blue subdistal band and a distinct dark distal margin.

Subgenus: Zononothobranchius

Species group: N. rubroreticulatus group

​Nothobranchius bellemansi was established as a species by Valdesalici in 2014.

The species is currently known only from its type locality. The known sites for members of the genus in the area around the foothills of the Nuba Mountains are scattered due to a limited number of localities that provide suitable conditions for Nothobranchius fishes. The few recent surveys carried out in the area did not detect this species at localities where other members of the genus occurred.

Sudan: Southern Kordofan: Wad el Mileisa, 10°45'44" N, 31°07'12" E.

This species is endemic to southern Sudan. It is known only from the type locality, a temporary pool in the savannah floodplain southeast of the Nuba mountains, Sudan.

Upper Nile (522)

467 m

At time of collection, the type locality consisted of a pool in a clay depression, containing only a few centimetres of standing turbid water in savannah floodplain.

Not known

​Not known. Embryonic development should not differ significantly to that of N. virgatus. This species should have an annual life cycle.

Maximum size reported: 45.7 mm SL (MSNG 57815, paratype, male)

Not known

The species is named in dedication to the professional biologist and conservationist, collector, aquarist and friend Marc Bellemans, Belgium.

Endangered B1ab(iii) (Nagy & Watters, 2019)

    Valdesalici, S. 2014. Nothobranchius bellemansi and Nothobranchius occultus (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) two new annual killifish from Sudan. Killi-Data Series, 2014: 4–19. [taxonomy as Nothobranchius bellemansi]

    Nagy, B. & B. R. Watters. 2019. Nothobranchius bellemansi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T131470411A131470470.  [conservation]