Aphyosemion pascheni festivum (Amiet 1987)

HLM 99 / 23 Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

Meaning of Name

Refers to the bright or festive colours of the species, particularly the caudal fin.
First Description

Amiet J.L 1987.

Fauna of Cameroon Vol 2. The genus Aphyosemion Myers (Pisces: Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes).

Scieces Naturales, Compiegne. p 262. Includes plates, maps, line drawings & figures.
Size

49 mm (Amiet 1987)
Meristics

D = 11-14, A = 14-15, D/A = +5-6, ll = 29-30 (Amiet 1987)
Karyotype

 
Sub-Genus

Mesoaphyosemion
Group

calliurum
Synonyms

None
Populations
  • Elephant Hill, Nyété, 10km south east of Kribi (southwestern Cameroon)
  • HLM 99 / 23 - Nkolbonda
  • KRK 98 / 6
  • KV 03 / 41

Not the best of photos, taken through a plastic bag at an auction, but you can get an idea of what the subsp. looks like.
Photo courtesy of Alan Green.

Again, taken through a plastic bag. Female to the male at the top of the page. Note the yellow in the unpaired fins.
Photo courtesy of Alan Green.

HLM 99 / 23 female
Photo courtesy of Vasco Gomes

http://www.nakashima.org/gaphyosemion_pascheni_festivum.htm Japan Gallery
Type Locality

10 km southeast of Kribi in the direction of Nyété, Elephant Hill.
Distribution

Restricted to the type locality. A geographic barrier exists between the two subspecies.
Habitat

Collected about 10 km south of the known distribution area of A.pascheni south of Longji at Elephant Hill. All streams in this area flow into the Lobe River.
Distinguishing Characteristics Distinguished from A.pascheni pascheni by being generally brighter coloured. The caudal has a flared pattern centrally. Spots of red forming lines on the front half of the body are heavy. Pectoral fins are practically clear unlike A.pascheni pascheni which are patterned by a marginal band of feint yellow & a sub marginal band of feint red.
Top outer margin to caudal fin is wider. Front part of body has heavier horizontal lines.
Colour/Pattern Variability  
History

First collected by Amiet in 1985 & described by him in 1987.
Breeding Notes

Bob Merrit gave a report in BKA newsletter No. 456, Sept.2003. Rainwater was used for breeding. Over a 2 week period 22 eggs were collected on a sample of Java moss. These were picked off into another container & floated in the tank. Most eggs hatched at 75°F in 20 days. Fry were fed newly hatched brine shrimp as a first food.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

For sale in limited numbers at BKA auctions 2000.