Although I don't like to report on new introductions before I have kept them for a long time and observed them in some detail, I will make an exception this time, taking into account the wishes of Dr. Kammerer, and acquaint enthusiasts, albeit only superficially, with the "latest import", Fundulus bivvittatus Lonnberg.
A message from Mr. Siggelkow that new killifish had arrived from West Africa did not surprise me - I had already heard of the arrival of the steamships, which I knew brought fish for Siggelkow.
First, there was a shipment from Cartagena (Colombia); which consisted largely of marine fish and, in my opinion, living temporarily in freshwater rivers. There was Poecilia sphenops in true giant - examples of a slightly different, possibly new Poecilia species, a number of Gambusia , which kind, I can't say, as we haven't received any Gambusia from the place mentioned so far. In a container filled with brackish water, in addition to a number of Gobies of two species, a small, charming perch and several specimens of a type of puffer fish (perhaps Sphoeroides testudineus) , the latter very peculiar fellow is slimmer than Tetrodon cutcutia ; it enjoyed the earthworms served to them very much. Small hermit crabs with their snail shells moved on the ground between sea urchins, holothuria and variously shaped sea snails. In another aquarium was a monster, a Morey eel about 1 1/4 feet long with a furious mouth full of pointed teeth. It is true that none of these animals had to be able to stimulate at first when I am currently not prepared for keeping sea or brackish water animals, and also those that need warmth.
of the mouth, opposite the 13. scale of the
lateral line. The beginning of the anal corresponds
the 11th-12th scale of the lateral line. Ansahl
of scales in the lateral line 26 + 2.
Transversal line from the beginning of the dorsal to the
after 7 scales. Number of rays in the dorsal fin 12, in the anal fin 14.
The belly reach beinshe to the
beginning of the anal fin. The pectoral fins
reach behind the roots of the pelvic fins.
The coloration is reddish brown, the
Rander of the scales are slightly darker,
more or less pronounced, with crimson spots in the tip of the scales.
Two rather broad, dark brown bands
run along the entire length of the body.
The upper band extends over the upper and lower part of the body.
lower lip, passes through the eye and
ends in the upper part of the tail root.
The lower band unites with the one of the
the other side to form a semicircle under
under the chin, a little below the edge
of the lower jaw, which is located between the upper
and lower band is white; it rises from there under the eye
under the eye through the root of the
pectoral fin (on which it bids a darker spot).
to the base of the anal fin, from there it follows the lower margin of the body nis to the base of the caudal fin. at the base of the caudal fin there is a large
red spot. the caudal and rump fins are spotted red.
The Musseren teeth of both jaws are.
large, from which feature this
species itself as belonging to the genus fundulus.
indicates.
The own grazing area is also rather
short, on the other hand this fish forms a member
swischen the two genera Fundulus and Haplocheilus by the position of the ruck fin behind the beginning of the anal fin,
which characteristic it has in common with Haplocheilus.
resembles in Fundulus, F. bivittatus.
in this respect Haplocheilus playfairii Gunther.
of the Seyshellen, but its vergrosserten
Zahe and the short proper pasture separate it from the whole genus Haplocheilus.
As already mentioned, this species stands between Haplocheilus and Fundulus, and it is
certainly beaser to count it to the latter genus, although the ruck fin is behind the
anal fin begins.
The specimen described above
was caught in the same river mouth as
the previous species (Haplocheilus fasciolatus).
Near the waterfall of the Ndian River."
I have added to the above description
of the fish, since I, like the
mentioned, the Fischenen now orst approx. 14 days
in possession and on the still undeveloped
animals no conclusive observations
only so much I was able to state,
that the two sexes are both
with respect to the shape of the fins as well as in
the overall coloration, the two sexes differ substantially from each other even as half-grown animals.
Sometimes the banding disappears
in both sexes completely, and one believes then, a completely different fish before
to have before itself.
In its way of life and its characteristics resembles Fundulus bivittatus Lonnberg, so
cousins as far as I have judged up to now; I shall
later, when my observations on the
animal are completed, again on the same
come back. The enclosed illustration presents the fishes in their present form.
natural size and shape, the (male) with spread fins; how large the fish in the
the adult state, I can not say.
say, but I would like to assume that it will reach the
size of its closest relatives Fundulus arnoldi Blgr. and Fundulus loennbergii Blgr. not significantly exceeds.
Among the Siggelkov import were.
three specimens of about 5 cm total length.
which were apparently grown out.
As I was informed by the catcher fish,
which I met by chance at Siggelkow, are the
Fundulus bivittatus Blgr. in the vicinity of
Old Calabar in a ditch with clear water.
have been caught. Both the newly imported
Haplocheilius elegans as well as the Fundus bivittatus.
became the property of the Vereinigte Zierfischzuchtereien Conradshohe, so they were
hopefully soon multiply and then the further
Fancier circles to be made accessible.
Of the so far to science known
West African Fundulus species only still awaits
the species Fundulus sjoestedti Lonnberg of their importation, may it succeed the Ruhr importer, Mr. Siggelkow, to bring also this species yet.