Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Etymology: Nothobranchius: Greek, nothos = false + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335); rachovii: Named in honour of Arthur Rachow (Ref. 97289).
Eponymy: Arthur Rachow (1884–1960) was a self-taught pioneer German aquarist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Ahl.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: 4 - 6; non-migratory. Tropical; 20°C - 24°C (Ref. 1672); 19°S - 20°S
Africa: temporary pools and swamps or water-filled depressions in the lowland floodplains of the lower Pungwe River and lower Zambezi River (Ref. 85866), probably also in floodplains of other rivers between Pungwe and Zambezi River (Ref. 85866).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18. Diagnosis: Nothobranchius rachovii is distinguished from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: in males, a bright colouration consisting of alternating light blue and orange-red bars on the body and fins, orange-red head, and orange subterminal and black terminal bands in the caudal fin (Ref. 85866). It can be distinguished from the other species of the subgenus Nothobranchius as follows: from N. furzeri by male colouration, higher number of dorsal fin rays, 15-17 vs. 14-15, and a lower number of scales on the mid-longitudinal series, 26-28 vs. 28-30; from N. orthonotus by male colouration, lower number of scales on the mid-longitudinal series, 26-28 vs. 28-33, and shape of the dorsal profile, convex vs. flat; and from N. kadleci by male colouration and shape of the frontal region, higher number of dorsal and anal fin rays, 15-17 vs. 13-14 and 15-17 vs. 13-14 (Ref. 85866). Females can be distinguished by the presence of a reflective light blue spot on all scales of the flanks, vs. few, irregularly dispersed light blue-green spots in N. furzeri and N. kadleci or frequent presence of brown spots on body and fins in N. orthonotus (Ref. 85866). Nothobranchius rachovii can also be distinguished from all other species of the genus by its low number of diploid chromosomes, 2n=16 (Ref. 85866).
Found in water-filled depressions in the floodplains of rivers; water depth is variable and decreases as the dry season progresses, eventually drying out completely (Ref. 85866). Littoral vegetation usually consists of grasses; aquatic vegetation may consis of Nymphea, Ottelia, Lagarosiphon and Utricularia species; occasionally, the swamps are used by local inhabitants to cultivate rice (Ref. 85866). Very difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Annual fish. Matures after 12 weeks. This updates previous information from Ref. 1672.
Shidlovskiy, K.M., B.R. Watters and R.H. Wildekamp, 2010. Notes on the annual killifish species Nothobranchius rachovii (Cyprinodontiformes; Nothobranchiidae) with the description of two new species. Zootaxa 2724:37-57. (Ref. 85866)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [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): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
