Pronothobranchius seymouri (Loiselle & Blair, 1971)

Family:  Nothobranchiidae (African rivulines)
Max. size:  3.4 cm SL (male/unsexed); 4.71 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: Volta River drainage in Ghana (Ref. 95020).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-18; Vertebrae: 28-28. Diagnosis: It is distinguished from all congeners by the following unique combination of characters: males with entire flank covered in more than 50 reddish spots of which some are fused forming irregular laterally-elongated blotches, a few irregularly scattered dots on proximal portion of anal fin, pelvic fin reaching anal fin, dorsal fin tip reaching caudal fin, females with spots on flank but not on fins; dorsal fin with 14-17 rays, anal fin with 15-18 rays and 29-31 scales in median lateral series (Ref. 95020). Description: Dorsal profile nearly straight on head, convex from nape to posterior extreme of dorsal fin base; ventral profile convex, slightly concave to nearly straight on caudal peduncle posterior to dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 95020). Snout slightly pointed, mouth directed upwards, lower jaw longer than upper, posterior end of rictus at same level as or slightly above centre of eye; branchiostegal membrane projecting posteriorly from opercle (Ref. 95020). Dorsal and anal fin rounded, shallow, located posterior to mid-body, tips with short filamentous rays, dorsal fin tip reaching centre of caudal peduncle; rays of both fins with papillate contact organs; dorsal fin rays 14-17; anal fin rays 15-18; pectoral fin approximately triangular, short, posterior margin not reaching pelvic fin base; pectoral fin rays 18; pelvic fins tips reaching the anal fin; pelvic fin rays 6; caudal fin subtruncate; caudal fin rays 28 (Ref. 95020). Scales cycloid, body and head entirely scaled, except on ventral surface; scales in median lateral series 29-31 + 3-4 on caudal fin base (Ref. 95020). Frontal squamation G-type; frontal neuromast series 'open' type; supra-orbital series in shallow groove, with two or three neuromasts; preopercular canal with 6 pores; one neuromast on each scale of median longitudinal series (Ref. 95020). Basihyal bone fan-shaped, about 70-90% as wide as long; six branchiostegal rays; large of teeth on vomer; second pharyngobranchial with a single tooth; single antero-dorsal urohyal process of urohyal with 3 extensions; lateral post-temporal process short; total vertebrae 28 (Ref. 95020). Premaxilla and dentary with many irregularly-distributed unicuspid, slightly curved teeth of variable size, a small number of larger ones on outer row of both upper and lower jaws (Ref. 95020). Colouration: Male colour in life: body and head scales light blue to an intermediate colour between light blue and light brown, darker dorsally; flank with rounded, red to orange spot and dots forming three to five irregular stripes on anterodorsal portion of flank and over caudal peduncle; superior lip, frontal, superior portion of head and dorsum greenish to brownish; dorsum with stripes of red to orange dots extending on caudal peduncle; inferior lip red to orange extending in an oblique bar below orbit; throat yellowish; opercular region with 3-4 irregular, incomplete, oblique red to orange bars; branchiostegal membrane red with light blue rim; dorsal fin greenish to orange, light blue with dark red dots proximally, narrow, light blue sub-distal band and broad dark red margin; anal fin light blue proximally with an irregular pattern of dark red dots, greenish to orange medially, narrow, light blue sub-distal band and broad dark red margin; pelvic fins greenish to orange with light blue tips; pectoral fins hyaline with light blue margin and small red dots on fin rays; caudal fin greenish to orange, darker in central part, with a complete dark red margin and narrow, light blue sub-distal stripe; iris golden with light blue iridescence (Ref. 95020). Female colouration in life: body and head scales pale olive to light brown, silvery to golden on ventral area; flank with light blue flush and rounded, red to orange spots; opercular region silvery to golden; all fins hyaline; iris golden (Ref. 95020).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 09 May 2019 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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