Cameroon

The splendid lyretail, Aphyosemion splendopleure, is a killifish from the coastal lowlands of Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It lives in slow-moving areas of small streams. Several colour forms exist depending on collection locality, and these should not be kept together, to prevent hybridisation. Very shy, it does not compete well with other species and is not recommended for the community aquarium.

Barboides gracilis is a miniature cyprinid from coastal West and Central Africa, ranging from Benin through Nigeria and Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea. Adults measure less than 20 mm SL, and it inhabits slow-moving, shady rainforest streams and swamps with dense marginal vegetation. It has a following among enthusiasts of planted 'nano' aquaria and may be sold as 'dwarf amber/ember barb'. Very peaceful but timid, it is best kept alone or with other diminutive West African species.

The African blackfin barb, 'Barbus' guirali, is a cyprinid recorded only from Cameroon and Gabon, including the Sanaga and Ogooué basins. Primarily a river fish, it also enters affluent streams and tributaries. It is rare in the hobby and little is known of its captive care, though one lone fish kept by a forum member behaved well, and a batch of what appeared to be a different species has been imported under the same name.

The spotscale barb, 'Barbus' holotaenia, is a cyprinid from Central West Africa, found principally in the Ogooué and Congo river systems. It has been recorded right across DR Congo and appears to be primarily riverine. Rare in the hobby, it has been suggested as the closest surface-dwelling relative of the Congo blind barb, Caecobarbus geertsii, a claim the profile considers questionable.

'Barbus' jae is a small, delicate African barb from Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the two Congos, sometimes sold as 'jae' or 'charcoal' barb. Populations vary in colour and pattern with locality, and the forms should never be mixed in the aquarium, to avoid crossbreeding. It lives in shady rainforest streams and swamps with soft, acidic, brown-stained water, and its shy nature makes it unsuitable for most community aquaria.

'Barbus' sublineatus is a widespread West African barb found in river basins from Senegal east to Cameroon, including the Niger and Volta. It is very variable in patterning and can be difficult to identify: Upper Niger fish show three elongate midlateral markings, Middle Niger fish a continuous band and Volta fish four spots. It may prove to be a complex of closely-related species. Little is known of its captive care.

The worm-jawed mormyrid, Campylomormyrus tamandua, is a benthic mormyrid recorded from nine countries in West and Central Africa. It sometimes arrives among imports of the elephant fish, Gnathonemus petersii, but has both jaws extended into a beak-like shape. It needs pristine soft, acidic water, generally refuses standard foods and grows to 400 mm SL. Like other mormyrids it produces a weak electric field, used to navigate and to communicate.

Chiloglanis polypogon is an African suckermouth catfish from Nigeria and Cameroon, where it inhabits fast-flowing hilltop streams. Like most of the almost 50 described Chiloglanis, it is seen only rarely in the trade and the species are very difficult to tell apart. It needs strong water flow and well-oxygenated water, and it is peaceful with its own kind and with other rheophilic species.

Chromidotilapia guntheri is a mouthbrooding cichlid from coastal drainages of western Africa between Liberia and Cameroon, plus the Niger and Benue. It occurs in a number of geographic forms, with fish from Cameroon tending to show dark blotches on the dorsal fin. A benthophagous omnivore, it sifts mouthfuls of substrate for food, and the male broods the eggs while the female defends the surrounding territory.

The widehead catfish, Clarotes laticeps, is a large predatory catfish recorded across much of Africa, from Senegal and Guinea east to Egypt and Kenya. It inhabits large lakes and rivers and grows to 80 cm, though it is unlikely to reach this in captivity. Uncommon in the trade, it is capable of swallowing surprisingly large prey and is unsuitable for all but the biggest aquaria.

The six-barred panchax, Epiplatys sexfasciatus, is a killifish from coastal regions between Gabon and Ghana. Well established in the hobby in several forms, it has a confusing taxonomy, and some authors restrict it to northwestern Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and treat other populations as subspecies. It mostly inhabits freshwater swamps and minor tributary streams, and is relatively easy to breed.

Fundulopanchax scheeli is a killifish from Cameroon and Nigeria, living in small streams and ponds in a few areas of coastal rainforest. It occurs only in permanent water and is not an annual species. Very peaceful and shy, it is easily outcompeted by more vigorous fish and needs carefully chosen tankmates.

Polypterus teugelsi is a bichir probably endemic to the River Cross drainage in Cameroon, where it lives in shady, slow-moving rainforest streams. Its colour pattern differs from every other member of the genus: a network of black marks over the upper half of the body, an orange belly and jet black pectoral fins. It is also more slender than other Polypterus. Discovered in 1988 and described in 2004, it stands apart from every other known bichir, all described before 1911.

The Cross River pufferfish, Tetraodon pustulatus, is a puffer endemic to the Cross River basin of Nigeria and Cameroon. It lives in the moderately fast-flowing main channels and is assessed as endangered by the IUCN. Imports are scarce and costly. Primarily a molluscivore, it can share a tank with smaller, quick, peaceful fish, but similarly sized tankmates may be bitten.

Celia's lyretail, Aphyosemion celiae, is a killifish from western Cameroon, where it appears restricted to parts of the central Mungo River basin. It was described from a small stream in Mambanda, near Kumba.

The red-barred lyretail, Aphyosemion elberti, is a killifish from central Cameroon and the upper Mambéré basin in the Central African Republic. Its range follows the Sanaga River system across Cameroon. It was described from 'Jade Plateau, Cameroon', which apparently corresponds to the Lebo River in what is now the Central African Republic.

Herzog's lyretail, Aphyosemion herzogi, is a killifish described from northern Gabon and also found in Equatorial Guinea and southern Cameroon. In Gabon it occurs in the Ivindo and Okano drainages, both tributaries of the Ogooué system. It is also known from the upper parts of some Benito River tributaries in Equatorial Guinea and from the Ntem River in Cameroon.

Lönnberg's lyretail, Aphyosemion loennbergii, is a killifish from southwestern Cameroon, described from the Kienké river (formerly the 'Kribi'). It has a wider distribution in the region and also occurs in the Lokundje and Nyong drainages.

The steel-blue killifish, Fundulopanchax gardneri, is native to the Cross River system in Nigeria and Cameroon and the Benue River drainage. Also known as Gardner's killi or blue lyretail, the common aquarium forms are among the best choices for those new to killifishes. Wild populations come in numerous colour forms, three of them described as subspecies. Its eggs can withstand a period of drying but will also hatch when kept submerged.

Fundulopanchax gresensi is a killifish known only from a small area in the upper Cross River basin, western Cameroon. It has been collected from shallow, swampy sections of forested streams, some of which may dry out in the dry season. The commonest hobby strain is known as 'Takwai'. It jumps well, so the aquarium needs a good cover.

The upside-down catfish, Synodontis nigriventris, is a small Synodontis from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Cameroon. It lives among densely vegetated riverbanks and spends up to 90% of its time inverted, with a belly darker than its back. One of the most gentle members of the genus, it should be kept in groups of at least three or four.

The two-banded lyretail, Aphyosemion bivittatum, is a killifish that appears restricted to coastal plains along the Cameroon and Nigeria border. Its range includes the Korup and Cross River National Parks, and the type locality is close to a waterfall on the Ndian River in southwestern Cameroon.

The Bouala lyretail, Aphyosemion bualanum, is a killifish from the upper Benue and Mayo Kébbi systems in Cameroon, Central African Republic and Chad. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. Before 1990 the name was misused for various populations of A. elberti.