Nothobranchiidae
Encyclopedia
Nothobranchiidae are a family
of bony fish
es containing roughly 300 species
. They are small killifish
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Nothobranchius
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Nothobranchiidae are a family
of bony fish
es containing roughly 300 species
. They are small killifish
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Nothobranchius
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Nothobranchiidae are a family
of bony fish
es containing roughly 300 species
. They are small killifish
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Nothobranchius
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of bony fish
Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes , also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000 species...
es containing roughly 300 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. They are small killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Genera
- Aphyosemion (including Chromaphysemion)
- Callopanchax
- Epiplatys
- Fenerbahce (formerly Adamas, sometimes Adamans)
- Fundulopanchax
- Nimbapanchax
- NothobranchiusNothobranchiusNothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
(54 species) - Peters, 1868 - Scriptaphyosemion
Nothobranchiidae are a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of bony fish
Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes , also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000 species...
es containing roughly 300 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. They are small killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Genera
- Aphyosemion (including Chromaphysemion)
- Callopanchax
- Epiplatys
- Fenerbahce (formerly Adamas, sometimes Adamans)
- Fundulopanchax
- Nimbapanchax
- NothobranchiusNothobranchiusNothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
(54 species) - Peters, 1868 - Scriptaphyosemion
Nothobranchiidae are a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of bony fish
Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes , also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000 species...
es containing roughly 300 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. They are small killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2 in). They are essentially limited to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...
(that family is now limited to Malagasy
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius
Nothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
es. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.
Genera
- Aphyosemion (including Chromaphysemion)
- Callopanchax
- Epiplatys
- Fenerbahce (formerly Adamas, sometimes Adamans)
- Fundulopanchax
- Nimbapanchax
- NothobranchiusNothobranchiusNothobranchius is a genus of freshwater annual fish from East Africa in the family Nothobranchiidae which was long included in the Aplocheilidae. Many species have very small distributions. There are many species: as of April 2010 there are a total of 54 nominal species, not counting subspecies...
(54 species) - Peters, 1868 - Scriptaphyosemion