Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15; Vertebrae: 24 - 25. Diagnosis: This is a fairly large species of the subgenus Chromaphyosemion, larger than all its congeners with the exception of Aphyosemion riggenbachi, which has the most forward placed dorsal fin (Ref. 41203). It is a strictly blue phenotype with a unique red marking on the sides of the body with the exception of the gill lids, with two conspicuous, mood-dependent dark longitudinal bands, with a red dotted dorsal fin, a flamed caudal fin and an "undrawn" anal fin, except for a thin red submarginal and white marginal band, with longer trapezoidal vertical unpaired fins and a caudal fin with short extracts in the males; the female also shows the alpha-shaped mark, with striking, dark bandages and an anal fin without spots, but without a dark mesh pattern around the scales on the sides of the body (Ref. 41203).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cyprinodontiformes

Family: Nothobranchiidae

Genus: Aphyosemion

Species: Aphyosemion alpha Huber, 1998

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

This species is found in clear creeks under forest cover, usually over a sandy soil, in the coastal plain (Ref. 80395).

Habitat

pelagic