Rivulus parlettei, Valdesalici & Schindler 2011

History

Alternative genus name: Anablepsoides.

Rivulus parlettei from south eastern Peru (Departamento Cusco) is described. It is a member of the R. limoncochae group (as diagnosed by Costa, 2010) and differs from all the other species of this assemblage by its unique colour pattern and different morphology. It is distinguished from its geographic neighbour R. christinae by irregular interrupted lines of dots wider than the interspaces on body sides (versus longitudinal rows of dots forming stripes narrower than the interspaces). The influence of the occupation of distinct microhabitats for the radiation of the clades and the possible process of speciation of the new species are briefl y discussed. 

Entemology; The secies is named after its discoverer Casey Parlette (USA)

 
Rivulus parlettei - male. Image taken from the original description.
Rivulus parlettei - female. Image taken from the original description. .

 

Distribution: Currently known only from the type locality, a small stream belonging to the río Araza in the vicinity of Vitobamba, at an altitude of about 820 m asl, Departamento Cusco, south eastern Peru

 


Reproduction

Keeping and breeding is easy but a tight fitting cover on the aquarium is necessary because their ability to jump, even through the smallest opening, is unbelievable.

This species can, if there is enough space for them, be housed in a tank with more than one male and several females. If separated before and brought together again however, they can be very aggressive towards each other and fight to become the dominant fish. The best way to produce numbers of fry is to put a pair or a trio in a small tank of about 10 litres with a small filter in it or with some aeration. On the bottom of the tank place some peat moss or dark gravel and a floating "mop" to give space for laying their eggs. The fish will, if they are fed a rich variety of live food, spawn during their whole adult life and produce daily between 5 to 15 eggs.

The eggs should be collected by hand and stored for about 14 days in a small container. Eggs are 1.6 mm and amber coloured. It is wise to add an anti fungus to the water you store the eggs in, to prevent fungal attacks.

 

After hatching the young fry can eat fresh artemia nauplii without any problem. It takes 4 to 5 months to raise them to maturity. Often the males far out number females. For some species this can become a major problem for the breeder, as he has to raise many fry to enable distribution of a few pairs to other hobbyists. Recent personal tests found that lower pH levels during the time of hatching gave a higher percentage of females. To achieve this I used some peat moss that I added to the container with the eggs just before they were ready to hatch. This peat moss also is a good way to prevent eggs from being attacked by fungus.

Their lifespan can be up to 3 years in captivity.

 

Remarks :

 


Variations
Rivulus parlettei - habitat. Image taken from the original description. .
  
   

Map
     

Meristics

Max. size 37.7 mm.
Dorsal 8-9,
Anal 13-14,
LL scale count (average) 37-40
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 77.7 %
Depth to % SL – 12.9 %

   

Literature
Valdesalici, S. & I. Schindler. 2011. Description of a new Killifish of the genus Rivulus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from south eastern Peru. Vertebrate Zoology, 61 (3): 314, figs. 1-2.