 Austrofundulus transilis, Myers, 1932 |
History
Austrofundulus transilis was discovered by Dr. Frederick F. Russell in 1928 somewhere in Guarico State, upper Orinoco system, Venezuela.
The species is, altough there is no excact type locality given, seen as a distinct species since its description by Myers in 1932. Austrofundulus transilis is the smallest known species of the genus.
It is destinguished from other species in the Genus by a pastel coloring on body and fins. The major work of Hrbek et al. shows the relationship of it between the other family members.
For a better understanding of the position which this strange species has in its group new collecting is needed and a deepened study of bones (osteology) and DNA is to be done in the future.
We just managed (May 2011) to recollect the species near Papelon in Portuguesa (see image above, made by Fernando Guerreiro.
Reproduction
I myself did never had the oppertunity to breed this species. I believe it is not very different to other species of this genus. After Huber in Killi Data it takes about 36 weeks to let eggs develop. Egg diameter is with 1.4 mm about 25 % less than the other family members.
Your breeding experiences are very welcome for this page.
Soon we can give more info about the breeding of this Austrofundulus transilis.
Variations
Map
Meristics
Dorsal 13.5,
Anal 15.8,
D/A 6.0,
LL scale count (average)31.2
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 66.0 %
Depth to % SL – 29.2 %
Literature
Myers, G.S. 1932. A new Genus of Funduline Cyprinodont Fishes from the Orinoco Basin, Venezuela. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 45: 160.
Hrbek T., D.C. Taphorn & J.E. Thomerson. 2005. Molecular phylogeny of Austrofundulus Myers (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), with revision of the genus and the description
of four new species. Zootaxa, 825:15, figs. 7-8. (PDF)