Phyllonemus typus
Boulenger, 1906 |
e are off to Africa this month (July 2006) and to a species that
resides in one of the Rift Lakes, Lake Tanganyika, along with
one of our other Factsheet subjects, Lophiobagrus
cyclurus.
There are two species of the genus, Phyllonemus, this
months subject typus and the much rarer P. filinemus
and the differences between them centres on the maxillary barbels
where typus has the ends of these barbels thickened (you
can just see this in the above picture) and filinemus
has them thread like. There is also a difference with the bone
structure on the top of the head in these two species, but both
have very large eyes.
So how does this species fare in an aquarium ?. Very well in fact
but needs to be kept in a higher p.H. than normal because of the
needs of the many species endemic to this second largest Lake
in the world, with the p.H. averaging out at between 8.0 and 8.4.
and the optimum temperature of about 25c (77f). Set the tank out
as per Tanganyikan with rockwork as they
prefer to hide in the crevices provided.
They like to rest on the substrate with their maxillary barbels
held in a curve out the way and their membranous tips turned towards
the front.
in their natural habitat in the lake they live in the inshore
waters to 20m depths.
Small and slender. 3 pairs of barbels with
the maxillary barbels sporting leaf-like ends. Dorsal with one hard
spine and 7 or 8 soft rays. Caudal fin forked. Pectoral fin spines
strongly serrated on posterior edge. The large eyes have a free
orbital rim. The posterior cleithral process is short and has an
acute tip. The palate is dentigerous and the premaxillary tooth
band is well developed.
Upper body brown with a slight metallic appearance. Light brown
to white belly. Mandibular barbels white/cream and maxillary barbels
black. White tip to each lobe of caudal fin.
This species is best kept in a group as it does like company of
its own kind and will feel more secure as it is quite a shy catfish
and can get bullied in a tank with larger aggressive species. As
with all Bagrid type fish it will be attracted to smaller fish at
night and may predate on fry, but all in all a good addition to
a mixed Rift Valley tank set-up.
Has been bred in the aquarium where they are mouthbrooders with
the male or female incubating the eggs in the mouth.
In its native habitat they feed on larval insects and crustaceans
and in the aquarium they will eat most foods given such as frozen
bloodworm, catfish tablets, white worm (sparingly) prawns and shrimp.
| Etymology |
Phyllonemus:
Greek, phyhllon = leaf + Greek, nema = filament
|
| Glossary |
Cleithral process :
A flattened pointed posterior extension
of the pectoral girdle (most prominent in the genus Synodontis)
Premaxillary : In
relation to the premaxilla (an upper jaw bone) e.g. premaxillary
tooth band.
|
| References |
Burgess,Warren.E. Dr. Freshwater and Marine Catfishes,
A prelimanary Survey of the Siluriformes. 1989
Eccles, David H; Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes
of Tanzania. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Aqualog Verlag;
from the book Aqualog Photo Collection 1 and is therefore
copyright to this publication. |
