Epiplatys multifasciatus (Boulenger 1913)

E.boulengeri ?(multifasciatus). Wild male collected at Leconi, Gabon.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Meaning of Name

Refers to the multiple stripes on the body.
First Description

Boulenger G.A. 1913.

Description de deux poissons nouveaux provenant des récoltés de Mr. E. Luja à Kondué, Kasai.

Monatsberichte der Gesellschaft der Luxemburger Naturfreunde (Bulletins Mensuels de la Societe des Naturalistes Luxembourgeois) 7 (7): p 43.
Size

7 cm
Meristics
  • D = 8-9, A = 14-15, ll = 29-30 (Boulenger 1913)
  • D = 10-11, A = 14-16, ll = 28-29 (Matthes 1964)
  • D = 9-11, A = 14-16, ll = 26-31 (Radda & Pürzl 1987)
Karyotype
  • n = 23, A = 46 (western populations)
  • n = 24, A = 24 (eastern populations) (Scheel 1981)
Sub-Genus

Epiplatys
Group

multifasciatus clade
Synonyms
  • Haplochilus multifasciatus Boulenger 1913
  • Haplochilus sexfasciatus (non Gill 1862) Boulenger 1915 (in part)
  • Panchax multifasciatus Ahl 1924
  • Haplochilus grahami (non Boulenger 1911) Pellegrin 1925
  • Haplochilus boulengeri Pellegrin 1926
  • Epiplatys multifasciatus Myers 1933
  • Epiplatys boulengeri Myers 1933
  • Panchax sexfasciatus (non Gill 1862) David & Poll 1937
  • Panchax boulengeri David & Poll 1937
  • Epiplatys sexfasciatus (non Gill 1862) Poll 1941
  • Epiplatys sexfasciatus multifasciatus Lambert 1961
  • Aplocheilus multifasciatus Scheel 1974
  • Epiplatys ansorgei (non Boulenger 1913) Radda & Huber 1977
  • Aplocheilus boulengeri Radda & Pürzl 1981
Populations
  • Bafwasendé (northeastern Zaire)
  • Bandundu (western Zaire)
  • Bouambé (eastern Congo)
  • Equateur Province
  • Ibembo
  • Kisangani (northeastern Zaire)
  • Komono (boulengeri)
  • Kondoué
  • Kounga (boulengeri)
  • Léconi (boulengeri)
  • Ossami Creek (Léfini System, southeastern Gabon)
  • Sindara (boulengeri)
  • Wamba River
  • GBN 80 / 20 (E.aff.multifasciatus)

Male from Equateur province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Female from Equateur province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Wild male collected in the Lefini River
Photo courtesy of Serge Mevellec

 

GBN 80 / 20 - Imported by BKA Species Import Committee June/July 1981.
Type Locality

Kondoué, Kasai Province, southern Zaire.
Distribution

Widespread throughout the Zaire River drainage system.

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

Rainforest streams, small rivers & brooks. They are known to feed on terrestrial insects (sometimes large) especially ants. Reproduction is throughout the year. Water analysis from Yangambi, Central Congo drainage, is temperature 23-24'C, pH 3.6-4.0 which is quite acidic.

See A.rectogoense for biotope photo.
Distinguishing Characteristics  
Colour/Pattern Variability High
History

Boulenger described this species as Haplochilus multifasciatus from 6 specimens collected at Kondue, Kasai, Congo. In 1915 he included a line drawing in his catalogue. These specimens are not adult & 'rather slender' according to Huber.

In 1917 Nichols & Griscom collected the species in 'pools & in a clear running forest river' which was an affluent of the Tschopo River. In 1936 Fowler collected them from Batangafo, Ubangi-Shari (Uam-Fara District close to the upper reaches of Bahr-Sara). Also from a locality some 30 km to the east of Kribi, southern Cameroon.

Poll, in 1952, placed Haplochilus boulengeri as a synonym of E.multifasciatus. This was based on specimens collected from rivers in the Central Congo drainage area (except for Katanga & the upper drainage of the Congo River). In 1959 he reported them as being found in the Stanley Pool area.

Lambert, in 1961, reported them from the eastern area of the Central Congo drainage (Banalia, Ikela, Lomela, Opala, Stanleyville & Yangambi districts). These he considered to represent a subspecies of sexfasciatus.

Gosse, in 1963, collected them at Yangambi where he found them common in brooks & forested swampy areas. He noted that these were found near the surface in shallow parts.

In 1964 Matthes reported them from Lake Tumba & Ikela districts.

History of the synonym Haplochilus boulengeri

Pellegrin described the now synonymous Haplochilus boulengeri in 1926 by one specimen collected at Kidada, three from Mongende, & three from Tshimbu, Central Congo drainage.
Poll, in 1952 placed the sp. as a synonym of multifasciatus.
Huber collected material in 1979 which were deposited in the Natural History Museum of Paris. Location 105, 116, 120 & 121 see JH79.
Breeding Notes

The ease of breeding this species is dependant on the differing populations. Some are easy whilst others are more difficult. Reports suggest using a large aquarium with one male & several females. Top mops are used for breeding. Eggs should be picked regularly & incubated in a seperate container. Water incubation takes 11-15 days. Growth rate is quite fast with sexual maturity being attained around 6 months.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

Some authors prefer to call Epiplatys boulengeri a full species. This work has followed the work of Wildekamp in 'A World of Killies' Volume III.