Micropanchax bracheti (Berkenkamp 1983)
| Meaning of Name |
After Heinz Brachet. |
| First Description |
Berkenkamp H.O. 1983. |
| Size |
3·5 cm. |
| Meristics |
D = 7, A = 13, D/A = 8, ll = 27-28. |
| Karyotype |
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| Sub-Genus |
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| Group |
loati. Consisting of - antinorii, ehrichi, fulleborni, loati, pfaffi, rudolfianus. |
| Synonyms |
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Populations
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| Type Locality |
Collected by Heinz Brachet 8 km southeast of Lama-Kara. 9°30'N, 1°15'W, northern Togo. |
| Distribution |
Fairly restricted to the area of the type locality. |
| Habitat |
Clear streams with slow flow rate in the savannah region of Togo. Sympatric sp. Ep.bifasciatus. Water temperature from 24 - 34°C, pH alkaline to neutral. |
| Distinguishing Characteristics | Both sexes have a yellowish to silver basic colour & show narrow dark edges to the scales & lower lip. The female is paler in colour & has rounded unpaired fins marked with scarsely visible spots. The male in good condition has a metallic blue body & behind the start of the ventral fins a distinct black, mis-shapen keel shaped spot. The dorsal & anal are pale yellow with a dark outer edge, the fins are not rounded. The caudal has 2-3 curved rows of spots. |
| Colour/Pattern Variability | |
| History |
Discovered by W.Verhayen, J.Huiselmans & F.Puylaert July 30th 1969 at Namundjoga 23 km east of Dapaong, Togo.. Between 1978 & 1980 Heinz Brachet of Wiesbaden, West Germany made 3 collecting trips to Togo & collected many sp. including an unknown lampeye. |
| Breeding Notes |
This sp. requires a large, well planted tank
as it is a strong swimmer. Water temperature 22-25°C. Small regular
feeds are preferable rather than one large feed daily. They will lay
eggs on fine leaved plants, surface vegetation & mops. Fry hatch
in 18 days. Newly hatched fry hide in floating plants for the first
3 weeks before schoaling. |
| Diameter of Egg | 1·5mm |
| Remarks |
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