Morphology Data of Nothobranchius capriviensis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Watters, B.R., R.H. Wildekamp and K.M. Shidlovskiy, 2015
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors
Remarks Males: the body is laterally compressed and, compared to other Nothobranchius species, relatively deep; all unpaired fins are rounded, and the dorsal and anal fins are covered with a thin layer of epidermal tissue; ctenii are present on all dorsal and anal fin rays, and project from the epidermis; the tips of the dorsal and anal fin project slightly from the fin membrane, more so in the Salambala population than in Sakamanduna population; the opercular membrane projects from the opercle (Ref. 116076). Female: smaller than male, the body is less compressed and less deep than in the male; the dorsal and caudal fins are rounded, the anal fin is triangular with a rounded tip, rays 3-7 longer and more rigid; the anal fin is positioned more posteriorly than in the male; no epidermal tissue or ctenii are present on the dorsal and anal fins; the opercular membrane does not project from opercle (Ref. 116076).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Nothobranchius capriviensis is known only as blue form, in contrast to N. kafuensis, its closest relative, that occurs as red, blue and intermediate forms; while there are general similarities in male colouration between N. capriviensis and the blue form of N. kafuensis, there are also consistent differences: the male N. capriviensis can be distinguished by the paler shade of blue than the blue phenotype of N. kafuensis, the lack of orange-red scale margins and the orange-red colour on the head of the latter species, and a more prominent and consistent barring on the body of the former; differences in female colouration are not as obvious: scale centers of N. capriviensis are iridescent light blue, whereas those of female N. kafuensis are less prominently blue and have a silver hue (Ref. 116076). Morphologically and meristically, the male N. capriviensis differs from that of N. kafuensis by a deeper body, its mean 35.4% of standard length vs. 31.4%, longer head, its mean 32.5% of standard length vs. 30.7%, a more posterior position of the anal fin, pre-anal length 62.3% of standard length vs. 60.5%, and a higher number of scales around the caudal peduncle, 14-16 vs. 13-14; female N. capriviensis have a more posterior position of the anal fin, pre-anal length 63.9% of standard length vs. 66.8%, when compared with N. kafuensis

Description: This is a Nothobranchius species of moderate size with a pointed snout and subterminal mouth directed slightly upward; the head profile is slightly convex, to concave in older males, with no distinct transition to the dorsal profile; the dorsal profile is convex from the nape to the dorsal fin base; the caudal peduncle profile is slightly concave at the upper and lower sides (Ref. 116076). The supra-orbital squamation is variable, but most specimens have G-type, partly covered with epidermal tissue anteriorly; the central supra-orbital neuromast systems are in two distinct shallow grooves, both sides of each lined with three shallow lobes; the posterior cephalic neuromast systems are in two curved pits; scales in the median longitudinal line number 28-31, plus 1-3 on the caudal fin base, most with a shallow pit in the center and one neuromast; the transverse rows of scales above the pelvic fins number 12-14, and the scale count around the caudal peduncle is 14-16 (Ref. 116076). The dorsal fin rays number 15-18, the anal fin rays 16-18, and the position of the base of the first anal fin ray is under the base of dorsal fin ray 1 or 2; the pelvic fins are short, not reaching the first anal fin ray; the pectoral fins reach the first pelvic fin ray (Ref. 116076).

Colouration: For live males of the Sakamanduna population, the body is light blue-gray with a brilliant blue-green iridescence, the abdomen white and the back gray-brown with a distinct yellow to golden hue; the posterior margins of most scales are pale gray to golden-yellow, the latterbeing a more prominent feature on the scales of the upper sides; the golden-yellow scale margin colour becomes more extensively developed on the back resulting in an overall yellow-golden hue; the sides show a variable number of rearward-pointing, commonly irregular, chevron-shaped cross-bars of variable height, width and spacing; in general, these cross-bars are formed by dark red-brown to maroon scale margins; in some specimens the cross-bars may, in part, be arranged in pairs, producing a generally coarser pattern; the throat is pale blue-gray with no markings present; two or three oblique bars, of the same colour as the bars on the body, are present on the operculum; the projecting part of opercular membrane is light gray with a white margin (Ref. 116076). The basal half of the caudal fin is light blue-gray to blue-green with a golden hue and irregularly dispersed dark red-brown to marron spots; this component is followed distally by a dark red-brown or maroon band, a wider light blue submarginal band and a narrow black margin; the blue submarginal band may include some pale yellow flashes; the dorsal fin is light blue-gray to yellow-gray with irregular, dark brown to maroon stripes and spots which become denser and smaller distally; the base of the dorsal fin usually shows five to seven distinct, relatively large and angular, dark brown to maroon markings; most specimens show a concentration of a few small black markings along the anterior marginal part of the dorsal fin; the proximal part of the anal fin is light blue-gray to yellow-gray with some dark red-brown to maroon spots; this zone is followed by an irregular, and commonly interrupted, dark red-brown to maroon band; the broad outer part of the fin, comprising approximately one-third, is usually light blue with yellow overtones; in some specimens the yellow colour is strongly developed and may be the dominant colour in this part of the fin; a narrow black margin may be present; the pelvic fins have a colour pattern similar to that of the anal fin although the dark red-brown to maroon spots may be absent; the pectoral fins are hyaline with pale blue or blue and yellow posterior margins; the iris is golden-brown with a golden ring around the pupil and a vertical black bar (Ref. 116076). Males of the Salambala population have in general a similar colour pattern, but the development of golden-yellow scale margins on the body is somewhat more prominent and in some specimens extending from the back to the lower flanks; there is also a greater tendency for cross-bars on the body to be arranged in pairs, producing a generally coarser pattern; a yellow colour in the outer part of the anal fin is more common in males of this population (Ref. 116076). For live females, the body is pale gray-brown, darker on the back, grading to white on the abdomen; scales on the back and upper sides have reflective light blue centers and narrow gray-brown margins, producing a faint reticulated pattern; faint, narrow cross-bars may occur on the rear part of body, produced by a local widening of scale margins; both the paired and unpaired fins are colourless; the iris is pale golden with an indistinct, relatively dark vertical bar (Ref. 116076).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Nothobranchius capriviensis

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 29 - 34
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 15 - 18
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 16 - 18

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  before origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
Comments & Corrections
Back to Search
cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17