Home · Nothobranchiidae · Redtail notho
Redtail notho (Nothobranchius guentheri) — Nothobranchiidae

Redtail notho

Nothobranchius guentheri
EN · Endangered

The Redtail notho (Nothobranchius guentheri) is a freshwater fish of the family Nothobranchiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
East Africa; temporary pools and swamps.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Redtail notho?

Get the app

Description

Guenther's notho is an annual killifish (Nothobranchiidae) from East Africa. The male is brightly coloured with a blue-green body and a red tail, while the female stays inconspicuous grey-brown. The species lives in temporary pools, swamps, ditches and small streams that dry up in the dry season. The eggs survive in the dry soil and hatch only when the rains return. It is used for mosquito control. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Redtail notho?

The Redtail notho has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a spots pattern. Annual: the eggs survive the dry season in the substrate; brightly coloured male with a red tail.

Where does the Redtail notho live?

The Redtail notho lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. East Africa; temporary pools and swamps.

How big does the Redtail notho get?

The Redtail notho grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Redtail notho dangerous to humans?

No, the Redtail notho is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Redtail notho edible?

The Redtail notho is not usually eaten.

More photos

Redtail notho (Nothobranchius guentheri) — Nothobranchiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Régis Guillemin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Redtail notho?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Redtail notho is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Redtail notho verified
Scientific name
Nothobranchius guentheri
Family
Nothobranchiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
East Africa; temporary pools and swamps. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Midge larvae, small zooplankton and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Annual: the eggs survive the dry season in the substrate; brightly coloured male with a red tail. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Nothobranchius

More from the family Nothobranchiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Redtail notho?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Redtail notho is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Redtail notho? Get the app