WildNothos
THE NOTHOBRANCHIUS SITE
Nothobranchius fasciatus Wildekamp & Haas, 1992
Wildekamp, R. H. & Haas, R. 1992. Redescription of Nothobranchius microlepis, description of two new species from northern Kenya and southern Somalia, and note on the status of Paranothobranchius (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 3 (1): 1–16.
Nothobranchius fasciatus Goba, wild-caught male - Copyright Ruud Wildekamp
Nothobranchius fasciatus Goba, wild-caught female - Copyright Ruud Wildekamp
Nothobranchius fasciatus Goba, wild-caught male - Copyright Ruud Wildekamp
Biotic index
Distribution map
Collecting period
Holotype
BMNH 1986.11.24: 7, holotype, male, 46.5 mm SL; Somalia: flood pool on the road from Kisimayo over Badada to Kolbio, about 2 km after Goba, 107.8 km from Kisimayo, approx. 00°43' S, 41°52' E; R. H. Wildekamp & A. Ibrahim, 30 Jun 1983 [field code: S-16].
Paratypes
BMNH 1986.11.24.8-12 (5), MRAC 86-48-P-11-24 (14), MRAC 86-48-P-25 (1)
Diagnosis
Nothobranchius fasciatus is distinguished from all other species of the genus by its strongly curved dorsal profile, with no or almost no transition to the head, and by its unique male colour pattern of irregular crossbars. It is distinguished from the related N. microlepis by the curved instead of concave dorsal-head transition, shorter snout, deeper caudal peduncle, slightly higher number of rays in the anal fin, larger and more regularly set scales on the body, supraorbital neuromast systems in more distinct grooves and the colour patterns of male and female (after Wildekamp & Haas, 1992).
Classification
Subgenus: Cynobranchius
Taxonomic status
Nothobranchius fasciatus was established as a species by Wildekamp & Haas in 1992, and that status has been accorded by all authors since.
Type locality
Somalia: flood pool on the road from Kisimayo over Badada to Kolbio, about 2 km after Goba, 107.8 km from Kisimayo (approx. 00°43' S, 41°52' E).
Distribution
This species is endemic to coastal Somalia. It is known from temporary pools and marshes, and local water reservoirs in the Lach Badana, Lach Anole and Descech Uama drainage systems of southern Somalia.
Ecoregion
Shebelle–Juba (531)
Elevation
18–29 m
Ecology
Water parameters of type locality (Wildekamp & Haas, 1992):
Water temperature: 30 °C
pH: 6.8
Hardness: 4 °DGH, 6.5 °DKH
Syntopic congeners
N. jubbi - 100%
Reproduction
Introduced only once for short time. Embryonic development should not differ significantly to that of N. microlepis.
Size
Maximum size reported: 50.2 mm SL (MRAC 86-48-P-25, female)
Chromosomes
Diploid chromosome number 2n = 34, NF = 46, karyotype structure 12msm+22st/a (Scheel, 1981).
Karyotype structure unique in the genus.
Etymology
The specific name is formed from fascia (in Latin for band), in reference of the banded pattern of the males.
Conservation status
Vulnerable B1ab(iii) (Nagy & Watters, 2019);
Previous assessment: Data Deficient (Getahun, 2010)
References
Wildekamp, R. H. & Haas, R. 1992. Redescription of Nothobranchius microlepis, description of two new species from northern Kenya and southern Somalia, and note on the status of Paranothobranchius (Cyprinidontiformes: Aplocheilidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 3 (1): 1–16. [taxonomy as Nothobranchius fasciatus]
Nagy, B. & B. R. Watters. 2019. Nothobranchius fasciatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T182507A58330934. [conservation]