Aphyosemion bitaeniatum

Two-Striped Lyretail · Zweistreifen Prachtkärpfling

(Ahl, 1924)Formerly Fundulus bitaeniatus Ahl, 1924 · Fundulopanchax multicolor Brüning, 1929 · Aphyosemion (Fundulopanchax) nigri Ahl, 1935

Last revised 2026Edit this page

On this page4 sections

Water conditions
Etymology
Distribution
Images · 5

Adult male of A. bitaeniatum 'Lagos red'.Hristo Hristov

Quick factsEdit

Max size

45mm SL1.8in SL

Aquarium size

not recorded

Temp

24–30°C75–86°F

5.0–6.5

Hardness

0–10dGH

Difficulty3 of 8 measures

Beginner

How the rating is worked out

Space: small tank
Water: needs acidic water
Temp: flexible
Diet: unknown
Temperament: unknown
Social: unknown
Compatibility: unknown

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness: unknown

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.

Water conditions

Edit

Temperature

24–30°C75–86°F

5.0–6.5

Hardness

0–10dGH

Etymology

Edit

Aphyosemion: from the Greek aphúe (Gr. ἀφύη), meaning 'a small fish', and semeion (Gr. σημεῖον), meaning 'banner, flag', in reference to the "ornamented, often lyre-shaped" caudal fin in male individuals of genus members.

bitaeniatum: from the Latin bi-, a prefix meaning 'having two parts', and taeniatus, meaning 'beribboned', in reference to the colour pattern of the preserved holotype, which comprised two dark longitudinal stripes on the body. In life, individuals from different subpopulations exhibit various colour patterns.

Distribution

Edit

This species is widely-distributed in lowland, coastal regions of Togo, Benin and Nigeria as far as the Cross River delta, and occurs at some inland localities along the lower Niger River. Populations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are now considered to represent other species.