Chevaliers pike

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Chevaliers pike
Systematics
Superordinate : Earfish relatives (Atherinomorphae)
Order : Toothpies (Cyprinodontiformes)
Subordination : Aplocheiloidei
Family : Nothobranchiidae
Genre : Epiplatys
Type : Chevaliers pike
Scientific name
Epiplatys chevalieri
Pellegrin , 1904

Chevalier's pike ( Epiplatys chevalieri ) is a West African representative of the killifish . It is kept as an aquarium fish and was first introduced to Germany in 1950 for this purpose.

Occurrence

The species occurs in West Africa in the area of ​​Zaire and there especially in the area around the " Pool Malebo " ("Stanley Pool"). Above all, sunny, plant-rich shallow water areas and the riparian zones are populated.

Appearance

The fish have the pike-like shape typical of all Epiplatys species with an overhead mouth. The males reach a total length of up to six centimeters in captivity, females stay a little smaller. The basic color is a metallic silver with yellow tones in the stomach area. The body is covered with several rows of bright red dots, arranged like stripes, and the fin rays are colored red (especially in the male animals). The pelvic and anal fins of the male animals are pointed, while the female animals are rounded. The caudal fin is spatulate.

Way of life

Like all members of the Epiplatys genus, Chevalier's pike is a near-surface lurker who feeds primarily on insects, smaller invertebrates and fish larvae. The fish standing in the cover of aquatic plants capture their food by suddenly advancing and occasionally jumping.

Reproduction

The animals become sexually mature at six to eight months. Eggs are laid in pairs, with up to 200 eggs being attached individually to aquatic plants or other fibrous substrate over a period of days. Brood care does not take place, the fry hatch after about fourteen days.

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