Epiplatys lamottei Daget 1954

E.lamottei I took in 1982

Meaning of Name

After Pr. M. Lamotte who collected the species.

First Description

Daget J. 1954.

Les Poissons du Niger supérieur.

Mémoires de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) 36: p 317-318, figure 20.

Size

Males 7 cm, females 6 cm.

Meristics
  • D = 11-13, A = 16-17, ll = 31-33 (Daget 1954)
  • D = 10-12, A = 14-17, D/A = +7-8, ll = 28-31 (Scheel 1968)
Karyotype

n = 24 (28)

Sub-Genus

Epiplatys

Group

fasciolatus

Synonyms
  • Epiplatys fasciolatus lamottei Daget 1954
  • Epiplatys lamottei Poernomo 1967
  • Aplocheilus lamottei Radda 1971
Populations
  • Koulé - GRC 90 / 178
  • N'Zérékoré
  • Salayea (northern Liberia)
  • Zor Zor

E.lamottei taken in the early 1970's.
BKA photo

Male. Photo courtesy of Allen Boatman.

Female. Photo courtesy of Allen Boatman.

Photo courtesy of André Paes de Almeida

Type Locality

Simandou, southestern Guinea.

Distribution

Southestern corner of Guinea extending into northern Liberia. They inhabit the upper Niger River (Guinea), the upper Lofa, Saint John & Saint Paul River drainage systems (Guinea & Liberia).

http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/homepage/c102/c102mr/epiplaty/lamottei.htm

Habitat

Small streams & brooks in heavy shade. Reported to inhabit inaccessible root systems. Water measured in the habitat, water temperature 21-22°C, pH 7·5-7·8 DH 1-1·5. It is likely this alkaline pH may change to acid during seasonal changes.
Colected 70kms from N'Zérégoré at a height of 200 metres above sea level.

Distinguishing Characteristics

E.lamottei showing dark area under bottom lip.
Photo courtesy of Allen Boatman.
Colour/Pattern Variability Low
History

Daget described this species in 1954 as Epiplatys fasciolatus lamottei from 22 specimens collected in the area of a range of small hills situated between the Milo & Sankarani Rivers, Upper Niger drainage. The point of collection of the type specimens being Simandou. No data available as to who collected them.

In 1964 Herold Olsen collected this species ( 7 males & 6 females ) near N'Zérégoré, High Guinée. This location is 140 km from the type locality. Scheel considered these to be a distinct species.

In 1971 Roloff reported another location in north west Liberia 70kms from N'Zérégoré near the frontier with Guinea.

Breeding Notes

I have kept this species on a number of occasions in water temperature 75-80°F, 100% rainwater, pH 6, DH less than 1° & found them fairly easy, laying eggs in floating or bottom mops (in the thickest part) mainly which were taken out & incubated in a separate container. I found better results from using rainwater with a little salt. Some breeders I talked to found salt to be lethal. The tank was placed in full daylight with a good growth of floating plants. Water incubation takes 12-15 days. Fry take newly hatched brine shrimp as a first food. Growth rate of the young fish is quite fast with sexual maturity being attained around 5-6 months.
I found that when an extra male was introduced into the breeding tank egg production dropped to zero. On removing him it went back to previous levels.
I was getting 10-15 eggs a day in green water which was so thick you could only see the fish when they came to the front glass.
I have never seen fry growing on in the parents tank. This may be due to cannibalism or all eggs being deposited on the mop & removed.

We have kept populations which breed in hard water. These were bought at auction without any population mark. It would appear that this (& perhaps other Epiplatys species) are very different in their ways of reproduction. It could be the manner in which they were raised as these were obtained through open auction.

Diameter of Egg Fairly large
Remarks