Fundulopanchax gresensi Berkenkamp 2003

Takwai
Photo courtesy of Ed Pürzl.

Meaning of Name

After H.Gresens who, together with V. Schwoiser, Kumba, H. Gresens, Meckenheim, and colleagues, did much field work with this species.
First Description

Berkenkamp H.O. 2003
Aquaristik aktuell, 6: 50-56, 7 figs., 1 tab.
Size

 
Meristics  
Karyotype

 
Sub-Genus

Paraphyosemion
Group

gardneri ?
Synonyms
  • Aphyosemion aff. mirabile Takwai
  • Aphyosemion mirabile Takwai
  • Fundulopanchax aff.mirabilis Takwai
  • Fundulopanchax sp. Takwai (used in auctions for some years)

Populations

  • Dagua Ntale
  • Takwai
  • ADL 13 / 32 - Takwai

Takwai
Photo taken in the early 1980's

Takwai
Photo courtesy of Pat Rimmer
Type Locality

Takwai
Distribution

Limited to an area around the villages of Takwai I & Takwai II. Also reported from the Bagwor & Mack River drainages. These drain into the Cross River.
Habitat

 
Distinguishing Characteristics Has always stood out from Fp.mirabilis by the numerous gold/yellow spots in the unpaired fins & rear half of flanks.
Fp.mirabilis Mbio can be distinguished from Takwai by outer marginal bands to the caudal fin. Takwai lacks any outer marginal banding to this fin & shows only a feint marking in the outer margins of the dorsal fin.
Takwai is somewhat unique in having a completely spotted caudal without any outer marginal bands.
Colour/Pattern Variability

All Takwai fish & photos I have seen show the characteristic above & I would consider variability in colour pattern to be low.
History

Around 100 pairs collected from Takwai & shipped to Germany in 2001.

Breeding Notes

See Fp.mirabilis.
Diameter of Egg  
Remarks

Field surveys by V. Schwoiser, Kumba, H. Gresens, Meckenheim, and colleagues, were undertaken over more than 20 years.