Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335); nikiforovi: The specific name is given in honour of Andrei Nikiforov, from Russia, who participated in several field surveys aimed at research on Nothobranchius fishes in Tanzania, and he is co-discoverer of this new species and co-collector of the type specimens; a noun in genitive (Ref. 123990).
Eponymy: Andrei Nikiforov is a Russian killifish enthusiast who participated in several field surveys aimed at research on Nothobranchius species in Tanzania, and co-discovered and co-collected the type specimens of this one. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical
Africa: temporary pools in the floodplain of the lower reaches of the seasonal Matandu River drainage in Tanzania (Ref. 123990).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123990)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 16. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius nikiforovi is distinguished from all other congeners, except N. eggersi, by males presenting two phenotypes; the blue phenotype having a bright iridescent light blue to blue-green body, with narrow red-brown scale margins creating irregular reticulated pattern forming chevron-shaped crossbars on posteroventral portion of body and median fins light blue with red-brown dotted pattern; the red phenotype has a dark red head, light blue dorsal and anal fins proximally and medially, dark red distally, with dark red stripes parallel to the fin rays, and plain dark red caudal fin (Ref. 123990). It differs from N. eggersi by male colour pattern: the blue phenotypes having median fins with dark grey distal portion, some of the rays of dorsal and anal fins with white tips only, vs. median fins light blue with distinct slender white distal band; the caudal fin lacking a spotted pattern, vs. dots arranged into irregular curved stripes; the red phenotype has a golden stripe between the nape and dorsal-fin origin, vs. light blue stripe; the dorsal and anal fin distal portion plain red and without light distal band, vs. with distinct narrow white distal band; the pelvic fin without distal band, vs. with distinct slender light blue to white distal band; furthermore, it differs from N. eggersi by the morphometric characters of having greater postorbital length of 49-55% of head length, vs. 42-48%, and greater head width of 64-71% of its depth, vs. 56-62% (Ref. 123990).
The species meets criteria B1ab(iii) for Vulnerable as conservation status; the increasing pressure on land and water resources of wetlands will continue to result in habitat degradation and represent an important threat to the species, raising vulnerability in terms of conservation status (Ref? 123990).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nagy, B., B.R. Watters and A.A. Raspopova, 2021. Nothobranchius nikiforovi, a new species of seasonal killifish from the lower Matandu drainage in south-eastern coastal Tanzania (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae). Zootaxa 4950(1):103-122. (Ref. 123990)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00472 - 0.02669), b=2.94 (2.74 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
