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Korthaus's killifish (Nothobranchius korthausae) — Nothobranchiidae

Korthaus's killifish

Nothobranchius korthausae

The Korthaus's killifish (Nothobranchius korthausae) is a freshwater fish of the family Nothobranchiidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Tanzania

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Description

Korthaus's killifish is a small, annual killifish (Nothobranchiidae) from temporary pools of Mafia Island and the adjacent coast of Tanzania in East Africa. The species grows to about 5 cm; males are yellow or red with a fine network pattern, females plain brown. It lives in rain pools that dry out in the dry season: the adults die, but the eggs survive dry in the mud and hatch with the next rains. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Korthaus's killifish?

The Korthaus's killifish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Korthaus's killifish live?

The Korthaus's killifish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Africa: Tanzania

How big does the Korthaus's killifish get?

The Korthaus's killifish grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Korthaus's killifish dangerous to humans?

No, the Korthaus's killifish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Korthaus's killifish (Nothobranchius korthausae) — Nothobranchiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Martin Grimm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Korthaus's killifish (Nothobranchius korthausae) — Nothobranchiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Martin Grimm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Korthaus's killifish sourced
Scientific name
Nothobranchius korthausae
Family
Nothobranchiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Africa: Tanzania sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Nothobranchius

More from the family Nothobranchiidae

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