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Nothobranchius willerti  Wildekamp, 1992

 

Wildekamp, R. H. 1992. A new Nothobranchius (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae) from the Kenyan coastal plains, with a redefinition of the subgenus Aphyobranchius. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 3 (2): 187–192.

 

Vulnerable

Biotic index

Biotic2.png

Holotype

​MRAC 91-65-P-1, holotype, male, 27.2 mm SL; Kenya: Mnanzini: residual pool of a small stream flowing to the lower Tana River, 1 km from the road junction of the road to Mnanzini with the Garsen to Garissa road, in the direction of Mnanzini (approx. 01°58.9' S, 40°06.5' E).

Paratypes

MRAC 91-65-P-2-4 (3)

Diagnosis

​A small Nothobranchius species which is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal fin slightly set back, its origin above the 2nd or 3rd anal fin ray; rectangular anal fin in males; regular cephalic squamation of the G-type; male with small sensory papillae on the distal two thirds of the anal fin rays; ctenii only present on the scales of the lower operculum and lower preoperculum (after Wildekamp, 1992).

Classification

Subgenus: Adiniops

Taxonomic status

​Nothobranchius willerti was established as a species by Wildekamp in 1992, and that status has since been accepted by all authors.

Type locality

​Kenya: Mnanzini: residual pool of a small stream flowing to the lower Tana River, 1 km from the road junction of the road to Mnanzini with the Garsen to Garissa road, in the direction of Mnanzini (approx. 01°58.9' S, 40°06.5' E).

Distribution

​This species is endemic to freshwater habitats in eastern Kenya. It is known from temporary pools in the lower Tana River system in the coastal plains of eastern Kenya.

Ecoregion

Tana, Athi, and Coastal drainages (567)

Elevation

16–28 m

Ecology

Water parameters at the type locality (Wildekamp, 1992:

Water temperature: 27 °C

pH: 7.2

Hardness: 5–6 DGH

Syntopic congeners

N. jubbi

N. patrizii

Reproduction

​This species has a semi-annual life cycle.

Embryonic development under captive conditions in peat moss is about three to four months at room temperature.

Size

​Maximum size reported: 27.2 mm SL (MRAC 91-65-P-1, holotype, male)

Etymology

​The specific name is given in honour of Manfred Willert (Germany), one of the discoverer of the species.

Conservation status

Vulnerable D2 (Nagy & Watters, 2019);

Previous assessment: Vulnerable D2 (Hanssens, 2006)

References

​   Wildekamp, R. H. 1992. A new Nothobranchius (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheilidae) from the Kenyan coastal plains, with a redefinition of the subgenus Aphyobranchius. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 3 (2): 187–192. [taxonomy as Nothobranchius willerti]

    Nagy, B. & B. R. Watters. 2019. Nothobranchius willerti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T60441A47189377. [conservation]

Distribution map

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Collecting period

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