Bachlings

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Bachlings
Rivulus waimacui

Rivulus waimacui

Systematics
Ovalentaria
Superordinate : Earfish relatives (Atherinomorphae)
Order : Toothpies (Cyprinodontiformes)
Subordination : Aplocheiloidei
Family : Rivulidae
Genre : Bachlings
Scientific name
Rivulus
Poey , 1858

The brooklings are killifish of the genus Rivulus and belong to the group of the egg-laying toothcarps . In South and Central America, for example, they occupy the biotopes that are populated by the ornamental males in West Africa . There is even a hermaphroditic species called Rivulus marmoratus .

history

The genus Rivulus was described by Felipe Poey as early as the middle of the 19th century . At that time, however, nobody could have guessed that this genus is one of the most species-rich of all. Poey then also described the first species of this genus, the Rivulus cylindraceus . This species was first found near Havana in Cuba .

Over 100 species of the genus Rivulus have now been found and described. Brooklings are scattered over a huge range that extends from Florida in southern North America to far into South America . The southernmost deposits are in the Mato Grosso and Gran Chaco regions. Even on some islands in the Caribbean are Rivulus TYPES home.

Way of life

In their homeland, the fish mostly inhabit small creeks that are heavily weed, ditches, but also ponds, in which they are often on the edge of the vegetation. Due to their slim body shape, the dorsal fin set back far and the upper mouth and, last but not least, their jumping power, they have adapted perfectly to these biotopes . In this way, they are also able to cover short stretches of land in order to get to another pond if the waters deteriorate or dry out.

We can find Rivulus species from the coast up to altitudes of 2000 m (e.g. Rivulus amphoreus "Table Mountain"), but we also find them in biotopes with extremely soft water up to the sea water limit ( Rivulus marmoratus ).

The upper mouth of these fish indicates that a large part of the food is taken from the surface of the water. But they also like to eat insect larvae , small fish and worm food. A large part of the Rivulus species are adhesive spawners , which means that they lay their eggs on a spawning substrate in the water, usually plants or fine roots. Some species prefer the water surface, some the middle water layer and others the water layers close to the ground. There are even species that lay their eggs directly in the ground ( Rivulus derhami ).

The species Rivulus marmoratus , which occurs in the coastal area, has another interesting feature, it consists largely of hermaphrodites. This means that the females can reproduce without a male. So you only need one female for breeding. In this species, males appear much less often and only under special conditions, about which there is not yet complete clarity. This species can also survive out of the water for several weeks and was discovered hundreds of meters away from the nearest water and in the bark of tree trunks.

Finally, it should be pointed out that not all areas, especially the inaccessible rainforests, have been explored and that the abundance of species of the Rivulus can therefore expand.

Genders

One can distinguish between males and females by the fact that the males are mostly much more colorful and colorful. Another distinguishing feature of many Bachlingen is the rivulus spot on the tail of the female.

species

There are over 110 species described.

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Web links

Commons : Bachlinge ( Rivulus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Stang : dradio.de: Der Sprung aus dem Wasser , DLF - Forschung Aktuell, October 28, 2013, accessed October 20, 2018