Aphyosemion

Aphyosemion australe, the golden or Cape Lopez lyretail, is a killifish from lowland coastal areas of Gabon and Congo. It lives in swamps and small streams and is not an annual species. Among the first killifishes to be widely kept, it is easy to spawn and can live over three years, and wild forms are kept labelled by collection locality to preserve bloodlines.

The two-striped lyretail, Aphyosemion bitaeniatum, is a killifish from lowland coastal regions of Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Its range reaches the Cross River delta and some inland localities along the lower Niger River. Populations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are now considered to represent other species.

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.

Bochtler's lyretail, Aphyosemion bochtleri, is a killifish from northern Gabon, where it occurs in the upper Ivindo River basin of the Ogooué system. It was described from a rainforest stream near Mintoum. Considered a synonym of A. herzogi for a number of years, it is currently recognised as distinct.

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.

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-spotted lyretail, Aphyosemion cognatum, is a killifish from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its range appears extensive in the middle and lower Congo regions. The type material came from a commercial shipment from Kinshasa and was presumed to have been collected nearby. Specimens from Lac Fwa in the Sankuru River drainage, many hundreds of kilometres from Kinshasa, have been identified as this species.

The Congo lyretail, Aphyosemion congicum, is a killifish from western Democratic Republic of Congo. It may be restricted to the area between the Kwango and Gamba rivers, but the type series came from a commercial shipment and its natural range remains unconfirmed. The Kwango drains to the Congo through the Kasai.

Decorse's lyretail, Aphyosemion decorsei, is a killifish from the middle Ubangi River basin in the Central African Republic. The Ubangi is a major tributary of the Congo. The type locality is Bessou in Lobaye prefecture, and its range probably extends into northern Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo.

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.

The reddish lyretail, Aphyosemion erythron, is a small killifish that appears endemic to southwestern Equatorial Guinea. Described from Río Muni, it has also been collected in the Río Aye, Río Ecucu and lower Río Benito drainages. It was referred to as A. sp. Ecurya before its description.

The Gabon lyretail, Aphyosemion gabunense, is a killifish thought endemic to the lower Ogooué river basin in western Gabon. Found in swamps, small streams and pools, it is not an annual species and makes a good beginner's killifish. A very peaceful, shy fish, it is easily outcompeted by more vigorous tankmates and needs a tight-fitting cover, being an accomplished jumper.

Hannelore's lyretail, Aphyosemion hanneloreae, is a killifish from Malinga in the Du Chaillu mountains of Ngounié province, southern Gabon. The type locality lies very close to the Republic of the Congo, and the species may also occur across the border.

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.

Aphyosemion mimbon is a small killifish from headwater drainages in northwestern Gabon, described from a tributary of the Mvé River. It has also been recorded from the Abanga, Mbei, Komo and Nkam, and may occur across the border in southeastern Equatorial Guinea.

The broken-line lyretail, Aphyosemion ogoense, is a killifish from the upper Ogooué basin in southeastern Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. Found in small streams under forest cover, it is not an annual species. More than 20 forms are known from different localities, a handful with subspecific names such as A. o. ottogartneri and A. o. pyrophore, and they must never be kept together as they may hybridise.

Aphyosemion rectogoense is a killifish known only from the Batéké plateau region and surrounding area in southeastern Gabon. It has been recorded from the Léconi-Djouya and upper Mpassa rivers, part of the much larger Ogooué basin, and the type locality is 6 km west of Léconi township.

Aphyosemion sp. 'Oyo' RPC 91/8 is a killifish collected for the aquarium hobby in 1991 near the town of Oyo, Republic of the Congo. Oyo lies on the Alima River, a right bank tributary of the middle Congo system. This fish may be synonymous with the congener A. castaneum, and it is best maintained alone with the emphasis on captive breeding.

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.

The red-striped lyretail, Aphyosemion striatum, is a killifish from coastal Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, as far south as the lower Ogooué basin. It inhabits perennial lowland rainforest streams, pools and freshwater swamps. Easy to breed and relatively long-lived, since it is not an annual species, it is a good beginner's killifish, though a shy one easily out-competed by more vigorous fishes.