After Obudu.

Wright, F. & J. Jeremy. 1974. Aphyosemion gardneri obuduense.

A Description of a new Aphyosemion gardneri Subspecies from Nigeria.

British Killifish Ass. Publ., Separatum, 103: 1, fig.

Unknown photographer but probably Wright or Jeremy. From the original description.

Paratypes - Male 44mm, female 40mm.

Paraphyosemion

• A.gardneri SP1 = Obudu
• A.gardneri SP2
• A.gardneri SP3
• Aphyosemion gardneri obuduense Wright & Jeremy 1974
• Aphyosemion obuduense mamfense Kottelat 1976

Populations

• Obudu

Near Obudu, south east Nigeria, 50km from the Cameroon border.

Obudu is found to the west of the Obudu Plateau. This is to the north of the distribution area of Fp.lacustris.

See map.

Females are reported in the provisional description (BKA Newsletter 99) as -'Dorsally brown, flanks olive brown becoming paler from the lateral line and whitening towards the belly region. Chin white, iris pale golden. Along the flanks are fly specklings of crimson which are formed into four row. The fins are almost transparent but have heavy markings of black towards the extremities. The anal is slightly suffussed very pale green'.
'The females are unlike any other A.gardneri form so far seen by the author and the male presents a very new colour pattern for the species'.

In this provisional description reference is made to the anal fin - 'The anal is yellowish green upon which are two rows of small crimson spots the fin being edged black'.

First imported into the BKA in July 1973 & were distributed in September 1973. These were collected in a small stream near Obudu in southeast Nigeria 50 km from the Cameroon border by John Hughes of Kano, Nigeria. He collected 3 forms of gardneri from the Obudu area which were coded - A.gar.Obudu, A.gar.SP 1, A.gar.SP2.
Ten specimens were sent to the BKA (3 males & 7 females). John Hughes collected 3 types of 'gardneri' & assigned the codes shown above.
A provisional description of the A.gardneri from Obudu appeared in BKA newsletter No. 99, November 1973 with a breeding report which considered this population to be more of an annual form of gardneri.
Eggs were laid in a peat substrate & found to hatch in water in 15-20 days. Eggs were laid daily but were few in number. Long periods were noticed of no spawning activity.
It was also noted in this report that females were unlike any other gardneri form known to date & resembled female ndianus.
In 1974 A.J.Wright & J.Jeremy (BKA) described fish caught from the environments of the River Obudu, eastern Nigeria as Aphyosemion gardneri obuduense.
Also collected sympatric with the Obudu population were Fp.ndianus but these did not reach the UK alive.

A BKA I/P was published around 1974. A breeding report in this publication reported breeding them in trios in water of pH 6·7, DH 4, temperature 74°F. Floating & submerged mops were used, also peat fibre. Males were seen to be quite hard drivers. Few eggs were laid & without exception were found in the peat fibre. Egg size varied from 1·3 - 1·5 mm & were colourless. These eggs were collected & stored in water at 72°F. Hatching occured in 15-20 days.
Later spawnings were observed in the floating mops & filter wool used to block a hole in the cover glass. More eggs were found in floating mops than peat fibre in subsequent spawnings.
Eggs from these later spawnings were again water incubated & found to take 33-40 days to hatch in water at 72°F.
Wild fish were timid in tanks without vegetation & adequate top cover. Females were less timid.
Fry were small on hatching & fed 'Liquifry' as a first food with newly hatched brine shrimp following on 3 days later. Growth rate was rapid up to three quarters of an inch.

1·4mm

Their is some discussion in the scientific community (2023) as to the correct name of this species - Fp.gardneri obuduense, Fp.mamfensis Obudu, even Fp.obuduensis obuduensis was mentioned. Huber in Killi-Data elevated the species to full specific status in 2010. In the same year the DKG published an article in their Journal 42. (6) December 2010 - Fundulopanchax aus dem Einzugsgebiet des Cross River. Zee, Bogaerts.

It is not known where A.gar.SP2 & 3 were collected ('in the area') or what they looked like so it's difficult to know the distribution area of the species.