Aphyosemion Musafirii

📖 Overview

Aphyosemion Musafirii (Aphyosemion musafirii), first described by Van der Zee & Sonnenberg, 2011 is a tiny fish in the family Nothobranchiidae (order Cyprinodontiformes). Adults typically reach 3.70 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Diagnosis: Aphyosemion musafirii is placed within the genus Aphyosemion by the combination of the following characters: preopercular neuromast system with 6 pores, slender body, posterior origin of dorsal fin with less than 10 fin rays, females with a strong reticulation due to dark scale borders, and the extended edges of the caudal fin in males . Males of A. musafirii differ from all other representatives of Aphyosemion in the north-eastern Congo basin by the in average broader red margin of the dorsal fin; this red border is narrow, up to 10%, in all other species in this area and is often absent at the distal end of the fin . Males of A. musafirii differ from A. castaneum by the absence of a red band in the approximate centre of the anal fin, absence of a red infra-buccal band, absence of red edges around the light ventral zone in the caudal fin, absence of, or only very narrow, yellow margin of pelvic fins and a higher average number of red dots on side, between 51-79 in A. musafirii vs. 13-57 in A. castaneum; these dots are arranged in more or less regular, interrupted rows in A. musafirii, whereas these dots are irregularly distributed in A. castaneum . The higher number of red dots on the side also distinguishes males of A. congicum (25-40), A. schoutedeni (17-28) and A. polli (11-49) from A. musafirii; it can also be distinguished by the more or less regular interrupted rows of red dots from A. sp. Cuvette, A. elegans and A. plagitaenium, which have either a pattern of vertical streaks or oblique bars on the side of males; males of A. musafirii differ from A. schoutedeni by the same characters as A. castaneum, with the exception that A. schoutedeni lacks a red band in the anal fin; males of A. musafirii have less spots in the caudal fin than A. christyi, 35-55 vs. more than 70; the background colour of the flanks is blue-green in A. musafirii and purple-blue in A. christyi; in addition to colouration characters, males of A. musafirii can be distinguished from A. christyi by the lower number of dorsal fin rays, 7-9 vs. 10-11 . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Aphyosemion Musafirii is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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