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Kafue killifish (Nothobranchius kafuensis) — Nothobranchiidae

Kafue killifish

Nothobranchius kafuensis
LC · Least Concern

The Kafue killifish (Nothobranchius kafuensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Nothobranchiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Kafue killifish is a small, annual killifish from Zambia, in the Kafue and the upper Zambezi. The species grows to about 6 cm; males are handsomely coloured. It lives in temporary pools that dry out in the dry season and lays its eggs in the mud, where they survive the drought and hatch when the rains return; incubation lasts about five months. The fish feeds on small invertebrates and is regarded as difficult to keep. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kafue killifish?

The Kafue killifish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Kafue killifish live?

The Kafue killifish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Kafue killifish get?

The Kafue killifish grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Kafue killifish dangerous to humans?

No, the Kafue killifish is harmless to humans.

Is the Kafue killifish edible?

The Kafue killifish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kafue-prachtkilli verified
English name
Kafue killifish verified
Scientific name
Nothobranchius kafuensis
Family
Nothobranchiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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