Refers to the 'flamingo' colouration of pink / red on the head.

Huber J.H. 1980.

Contribution à l'étude de la morphoespéce Epiplatys multifasciatus, ébauche systematique et description de Epiplatys mesogramma n. sp. et Epiplatys phoeniceps n. sp.

Killi Revue (Killi Club de France) 7 (2) Supplement 1-19, figures, map.

6 cm

D = 9-10, A = 15-16, D/A = +10-11, ll = 28-30 +1-3 (Huber 1980)

Epiplatys

multifasciatus clade

• Aplocheilus phoeniceps Radda & Pürzl 1981

• Ignoli (northeastern Congo)
• FCCO 2013 / 8 - Ouaka (aff.phoeniceps)

Given as '200 metres south of the village of Ignoli, 13 km south of Débrouillé, from a small but fast flowing stream on the forested plateau of the Sangha system, northern Congo.'

The holotype & paratypes were collected in a small stream on the forest plateau of the Sangha basin, northern Congo.

Found in the Alima, Likouala & Sangha River drainage systems of east & northeast Congo which drain into the Zaire River.

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

Habitat

Small rivers & streams under forest cover.

Collected by Huber on the 19th July 1979 at location JH 137 / 79, 200 m south of the village of Ignoli on the forest plateau of the Upper Sangha. Also at JH 139 / 79 2 km north of Liouesso. Material was deposited in the Natural History Museum of Paris.Introduced to the Nederlands in 1991.

Lays eggs in fine leaved plants & mops. Water incubation takes about 14 days. Growth is reportedly quite rapid.

Fish bred in the Nederlands in 1991 produced mainly males in the first generation. The second generation produced totally males causing their dissapearance from the hobby.