This species was described in the genus Hypsolebias.

W. Costa (2006) assigned many members of the genus Simpsonichthys to the subgenus Hypsolebias (Costa 2006). Hypsolebias was subsequently elevated to a genus (Costa 2011). According to some scientists, the separation of Hypsolebias from the genus Simpsonichthys is insufficiently substantiated and, therefore, debatable.

Describer(s): Nielsen, Martins, Medeiros & Suzart.

Etymology: in honor of Oscar Akio Shibatta, for his contribution to South American ichthyology.

Type locality: about 18km southeast of Bom Jesus da Lapa city, rio São Francisco basin, at road BR-430, Bahia state, altitude 433 m, (eastern) Brasil.

Superspecies-components: 

H. adornatus, alternatus, brunoi, caeruleus, carlettoi, delucai, fasciatus, flammeus, fulminantis, gardneri, hamadryades, harmonicus, hellneri, longignatus, lopesi, magnificus, multiradiatus, ocellatus, picturatus, shibattai, splendissimus, tocantinensis, trifasciatus.

Diagnosis: 

separated from related components of the magnificus superspecies by a golden-yellow coloration on head, opercular region and body up to beginning of Dorsal fin in male (vs. absence of golden-yellow color), by having 5-6 transverse red bars alternating with 5-6 dark greenish bars on male sides underneath Dorsal fin (vs. red bars absent or 11- 13 reddish brown bars in brunoi and flammeus, 10-11 red bars in picturatus, 3 red bars in magnificus and harmonicus); by having

bright golden-yellow lines parallel to rays on male Dorsal fin (vs. lines absent or blue lines parallel in fulminantis; golden-yellow lines only on anterior portion of Dorsal fin in adornatus and lopesi, or on Anal fin in hellneri), by slender bright yellow-gold lines in the upper portion of male Caudal fin changing into a slender light bright blue lines towards middle portion (vs. lines absent in caudal-fin or dark blue lines in fulminantis, or thick 3-5 lines in radiosus), by male Caudal fin with background color light red with slender bright blue lines, parallel to fin rays (vs. lines absent or background color dark red with metallic dark blue lines in fulminantis), by Ventral fins golden-yellow (vs. pale yellow with black tip in mediopapillatus and ghisolfii and translucent in the remaining components), and by a thin black distal line in Anal and Caudal fins (vs. thin black distal line absent) (Nielsen et al., 2014).

This species can be productive, and the fry is small. Immediately after hatching, the fry should be fed with freshly hatched Artemia nauplii (brine shrimp) or better Paramecium. As most annual species do, they spawn by diving entirely into the substrate. It is best to provide a container with a lid on top in which a hole is made to allow the fish access. That container will need to have enough peat in it for the fish to dive completely into it. For most Hypsolebias species, egg development is complete after 8-10 weeks. However, it is wise also to check a few weeks earlier to see if any eggs have fully developed. Do not let the peat dry too far because the Hypsolebias like it moist. The development will be slower at storage temperatures between 21 and 24 Celsius and speed up at 25-29 Celsius. Before watering the eggs, put some eggs in the water of about 18-20 degrees Celsius to see if the eggs hatch

correctly. That usually happens within 2-6 hours. Then, if eggs hatched well and fry, swim correctly, bring all remaining peat in the water. You may need to re-pack the peat after pouring over the first group of fry to a larger tank.With regular water changes and sufficient food, the young will grow quickly, and after about 5-6 weeks, they can already produce their first eggs. Since this genus has an annual life cycle, the expected life span in captivity is not much more than 10 to 12 months. Their life expectancy is limited to when their pool still has water in the wild. This period can vary from 6 to 8 months.

Remarks:

Max. size mm.
Dorsal .... in males, .... in females.
Anal .... in male, .... in females.
D/A -.,
LL scale .....
Pre- dorsal length to % SL. ..... %
Depth to % SL – ....... %

Nielsen D.T.B., M. Martins, L. Medeiros L, Suzart. 2014
Hypsolebias shibattai, a new species of annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the rio São Francisco basin, northeastern Brazil. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 20 (1) (January): 27-34, figs.