Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (Duméril, 1861)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 14. Diagnosis: Larger and deep-bodied ‘Lampeye’ species, slight lateral compression; dorsal fin rounded, anal fin trapezoid, caudal fin truncated; dorsal fin with 6-8 rays, anal fin with 11-14 rays, displacement between dorsal and anal fins 1/7-8; scales on the mid-lateral series 25-28 (Ref. 57259). Colouration: Male colouration: the basic colour is pale grey-green to olive with a light blue iridescence on the sides; also present on the sides are 10-15 dark grey crossbars which, towards the front break up into spots; the dorsal and anal fins are yellow-green, with grey and silver spots at the base and some grey spots in the posterior parts, arranged into curved bands; the caudal fin is lemon yellow to pale orange with dark grey and silver spots at the upper and lower parts, followed by a narrow orange to red border; the central part of this fin has some curved grey crossbars (Ref. 57259). Female colouration: the body is a translucent silver-grey with a silver abdominal region and lacking the grey crossbars present on the male; all unpaired fins are colourless to pale yellow (Ref. 57259).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Procatopodidae
Genus: Aplocheilichthys
Species: Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (Duméril, 1861)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Found in brackish water, only rarely entering fresh or marine water (Ref. 57259). Found in coastal swamps, river mouths, lagoons, estuaries and mangrove swamps near beaches (Ref. 3788, 57259). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Habitat
brackish