Aphyosemion splendidum (Pellegrin 1930)
This sp. is regarded as valid by some authors & a synonym of A.batesii by others.

A.splendidum Ebiyong circulating in the US around 1980.
Photo: Courtesy of Lennie MacKowiak

Meaning of Name

Splendid fish.
First Description

Fundulus splendidus Pellegrin 1930

ibid 55.
Size

7 cm (+3) Scheel 1968
Meristics

Scheel in ROTOW 1 p 413 commented that A.batesii & A.splendidum are 'seperated by their meristic character, not colour patterns'.

D = 15-18, A = 15-17, D/A = 1-2A, ll = 33-36. Scheel 1968
Karyotype

 
Sub-Genus

 
Group

 
Synonyms
  • Fundulus splendidus Pellegrin 1930
Populations
  • Afan Essokie II - ABC 05 / 48 (sometimes seen corrupted to Ajan Essokie)
  • Djoum
  • Ebiang
  • Equateur
  • Makokou
  • Mbandaka
  • Mebassa
  • Meyo Messi (A blue phenotype)
  • Ntolo
  • GEMLCE 04/6
  • JH 78 / 111 - Tchika Pika
  • JH 78 / 133 - Ntokou, Likouala - Mossaka
  • JH 78 / 149 - 35 km south of Sembe
  • JH 78 / 151 - 3 km east of Souanke
  • JH 78 / 153 - 58 km east of Souanke
  • JH 78 / 154 - Garabinzam
  • JH 78 / 157 - Ouesso
  • JVC 13 / 7 - Lélé

Grell & Bleher collected in 1986 from 72 km Bumba to Lisala, Zaire. This was called aff.splendidum. This collection point is well to the east of the known range of this species.

Collected at Mbandaka
Photo courtesy of Serge Mevellec

Collected at Mbandaka
Photo courtesy of Serge Mevellec
Type Locality

Sangha drainage (exact location unknown but thought to be near Ouesso).
Distribution

 
Habitat

 
Distinguishing Characteristics  
Colour/Pattern Variability  
History

Pellegrin described this sp. from 56 specimens collected by Baudon in the Sangha drainage. Additional material (23 specimens collected on the road between Suanké & Gara-Binzam) was collected in the Ivindo-Ogowe drainage area.
Scheel later examined the preserved fish collected by Baudon in the Sangha drainage & commented how they still retained much or their colour & fin filaments (in some males). The type specimens were preserved in alcohol.
The 23 specimens collected on the road between Suanké & Gara-Binzam were preserved in formalin & as such all red pigmentation was destroyed. These individuals were much darker than the 56 specimens collected by Baudon.

Huber rediscovered the sp. on a collecting trip to the Congo in 1978 in the area of Pellegrin's type material. This area was located south of Ouesso on the Sangha River.
Breeding Notes

When this sp. first came into the UK some breeders reported getting 100% females. There appeared to be 2 forms circulating, one hatched out in 6 weeks whilst the other took 6 weeks of dry storage before any hatching attempt.
First signs of differences between the sexes appear in 5 - 8 weeks.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks