Aphyosemion mimbon Huber 1977


A.mimbon.Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Meaning of Name

The local Fang people of northern Gabon, in the Crystal Mountains, call Aphyosemion type fish M'bon (Mimbon). In other areas of Gabon this name becomes Mimbungu.
First Description

Huber J.H. 1977

Une chaine de deux Aphyosemion sympatriques dans les monts de Crystal, Gabon, avec description d'une espece nouvelle; A.mimbon n.sp.

Revue Francaise d'Aquariologue 4 (1): 8-9.
Size

4.5 cm
Meristics

D = 13-14, A = 16-17, D/A = 1/7-8, ll = 30-32(+ 1-3)(Huber 1977).
Huber mentions 15 other specimens preserved at the time but not used in the first description.
Karyotype

n = 15, A = 25 (Scheel 1990).
Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion
Group

cameronense
Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion sp. Mitzic Bochtler & Heinrich 1977
  • Aphyosemion maculatum mimbon Radda & Purzl 1987.
Populations
  • Akoga (northern Gabon)
  • Assok
  • Avang
  • Edoum
  • Kikonde
  • Médouneu (northern Gabon)
  • Médouneu (west of)
  • Mela
  • N'Kinnnen DNA 01
  • BBS 99/22, 23, 24
  • EBT 96/25
  • EG 03/20
  • G 76/54 - Type Locality
  • G 02/156, 157, 158, 159
  • GBBS 99 / 22
  • GBG 92 / 36
  • GEB 94 / 25
  • GEB 94 / 26
  • GEB 94 / 27
  • GEMLC 04/5
  • GEMLC 04/7 (GEM1lCC 04 ?)
  • GWW 86 / 30
  • LEC 93 / 18
  • LEC 93 / 19
  • RS 570 - RS refers to a Museum sample number = G 02/158
  • RS 571 = G 02/159
  • RS 640 = G 02/157

Medouneu HZ 87 / 7
Photo courtesy of Pat Rimmer

This photo was labelled 54. This is the type locality & this may be the first import of this sp.
Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

GBBS 99 / 22
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

 

GEMHS 00 / 11 male
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

GHG 83 / 1.
Photo courtesy of Maurice Chauche & the KCF website.

 

N'Kinnnen DNA 01
 Photo courtesy of Tony Terceira

 

 

 

GEMHS 00 / 11 female
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

Edoum (see also GEB 94/25 & 26) - Imported to Germany by Roland Numrich on more than one occasion including 1988 where he collected them here. The biotope was a small stream passing through a wood near Edoum where it passes under a road. The stream bed was very muddy, thought to be due to de-forestation upstream where trees were cleared & burnt. In the summer of 1988 the stream width was 2 metres near the road. A.mimbon was the most common killie here but also found were Episemion sp.aff.callipteron & a particularly intensely coloured A.herzogi.

GBG 92/35 & 36 - Collected by Grell in July 1992 west of Médouneu. At location 36 an Episemion sp. was also found.

GEB 94/25 - Collected in the Oyab stream, 1km north of Edoum. Blum & Eberl collected here 19th February 1994 at about 7am. A.mimbon, A.spec.aff.herzogi (few), Episemion sp (1).
http://www.nakashima.org/gaphyosemion_mimbon_geb9425.htm Japan Gallery

GEB 94 / 25 male
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

GEB 94 / 25 female
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

  

GEB 94/26 - Near Edoum. In a stream 2km along a trail northwest of the village. A.mimbon, A.spec.aff.herzogi. Both brought back to Germany alive.

GEB 94/27 - On the way back to Libreville. Passing through Akoga they fished 2kms southwest near Ntom in the Mboun stream. A.mimbon, A.spec.aff.herzogi found but not brought back.

GWW 86/30 - Collected 3kms from Médouneu on 10th January 1986.The only killifish present. Brought back to Germany & may still be in the hobby.

JH 76/52 - The JH 76 codes are also called G 76. Collected 28th August 1976 near the Catholic Mission at Médouneu. A small marshy stream with very clear water. A.mimbon, A.sp.aff.herzogi, Ctenopoma sp, Clarias sp., Barbus sp.

JH 76/53 - 16kms west of Médouneu on the road to Libreville. Near the village of Nkinnen (Nkinén). A 'reasonably large stream with sluggish almost standing water 100 metres from the village'. The stream was called the Mja (Mia). Water temperature 23°C, muddy base & a strong smell of decay. Manioc was stored in the stream here. A.mimbon, Ctenopoma sp.,characin.

JH 76/54 - Near Akoga.

LEC 93/18 - Collected by Legros, Eberl & Cerfontaine on 12th January 1993 at 5pm. This is the same locality as Huber's JH 76/53. Water temperature 23·2°C, pH 5·7, nitrite 0·5. Brought back to Europe & distributed.

LEC 93/19 - The Fini stream near Avang to the west of the village, 35kms west of the outskirts of Médouneu. Local villagers call this place PK 36, Médouneu. Collected 13th January 1993 at 7 am. Water temperature 20·9°C, electrical conductivity 18µS, pH 6·3, total hardness 0 dgh. A.mimbon, A.spec,aff.herzogi, Barbus jae, Silurus sp., characin.

LEC 93/19. Photo courtesy of Chris Wetmore

    

Ottomitan - This is the name of a stream near Médouneu airport. Hervé Gonin collected A.mimbon & an Episemion sp. He collected around Médouneu 3rd to 7th March 1983.

PEG 94/43 - Collected in the Oyab stream near Edoum. Collected 20th August 1994. Episemion callipteron were collected & brought back to Europe.

PEG 94/44 - Collected in the Ndoube stream near Nzog Bour, 13kms southwest of Edoum & 31 kms from Médouneu. A.mimbon collected & brought back alive to Europe.

PEG 94/45 - Collected in the Fsinen stream near Avang, 18kms southwest of Edoum. Collected on 20th August. A.mimbon collected & brought back alive to Europe.
Type Locality

Akoga, which is 55 km from Médouneu, northern Gabon. Also known as location G 76/54
Distribution

The upper Abanga, upper Nkam, upper Mbei & upper Komo River drainages of northwestern Gabon probably extending to southeastern Equatorial Guinea.
The type locality was a small brook draining into the Mvé River.
Collected localities lie on the road between Médouneu & Ntom.
Habitat

Small rainforest streams in hilly areas. The type locality is described as a 'small, fairly fast flowing stream'. Dense vegetation on banks with a sandy base covered in a heavy concentration of leaves. Water was slightly brown. At 9am water temperature was 20·8°C, pH 6·4, 0·2 dGH. Also found a barb species & frogs. Huber reports 2 forms collected. A.mimbon which he calls 'blue form' & a 'yellow' form which looked similar to A.herzogi but may not have been this species.
Distinguishing Characteristics

Possibly only confused with A.maculatum in the body at least. Both have large red areas. Fins however are totally different with A.mimbon being more solid yellow in the outer margins.
Caudal fin has very wide yellow marginal bands top & bottom to the caudal fin.
Colour/Pattern Variability Can vary from heavy colour/patterning to almost none.
History

Described by Huber in 1977 after he & Ed Pürzl collected them near Akoga in August 1977. Original specimens were bred by Maurice Chauche but soon died out. This was location G 76/54.

It was not collected again until 11th January 1986 by Peter Wagner & Roland Wendel & brought back alive to Germany (GWW 86/30). This location is 3kms west of Médouneu in the Monts de Cristal, north Gabon. They were able to breed & distribute them.

In July 1992 Grell collected at 2 points west of Médouneu. These were brought back to Germany alive & distributed.

In January 1993 Legros, Eberl & Cerfontaine (LEC 93) brought live fish back from 2 collection points near Médouneu on their way to Sam.

In February 1994 (GEB 94) Thomas Blum & Wolfgang Eberl collected in the Monts de Cristal & brought back live fish to Germany.

In August 1994 Passaro & Eberl (PEG 94) brought back more live fish to Germany.
Breeding Notes

Reportedly difficult. Eggs are laid in peat fibre/plants/mops & can be safely left with the parents where a few will grow on. Growth is slow with sexual maturity taking 8 months. Young fish are sensitive to waste products in the water. Also, they are sensitive to water changes so small regular water changes are required.

Karl Heinz Notzon put a breeding report in BKA Newsletter No.324 (Sept.1992). He received eggs which needed help in hatching with a little dry food. Fry grew on to 2·5cm in 7 weeks. At this size males started to show. Only one female was found out of 18 fish.
It was felt that regular water changes were essential with this sp. For breeding a water temperature of 18 - 22°C, pH 6 & medium hardness were used. The capacity of the tank was 5 litres. Eggs were laid on mops & peat fibre.Eggs were stored on moist peat.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks