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The  Northern Ohio Killifish Association

Club Magazine Jan-08  Edition

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Fact Seekers notes:

The below table is offered as a starting point/ quick reference only (if you lack more concise information). The table  below is a generalization, not a absolute guide as there are always exceptions to the rules. To use the table, find the genus of the fish in question and if it is typed in black text, then there are no or few examples that deviate from the charted constant. If the genus is typed in Blue, then that incubation method/climate is the primary constant (and a secondary constant is possible). If the genera is typed in red, then that is the secondary constant for that genus. Drill down from the black or blue text to the bottom to find the major "Class" division for that killifish genus

Notes:

*Callopanchax is widely held as belonging to the semi-annual group, although it lifespan and reproductive cycle is quite "annual"

**Fundulopanchax has some species that have a essentially annual reproductive biology, and a few species that have essentially a non-annual reproductive biology

***Fluviphylax- New World "lampeye"

Use the columns at the top to determine how to incubate the eggs, and use the fields on the left to determine a general minimum **"incubation temperature" (and secondarily as the fishes "maintenance temperature"). You will note the blacked out areas of the chart, that is because no common aquarium species are represented in those cross sections (for instance: there aren't any lampeyes, semi annuals or old world annuals in the temperate climates) **incubation temperature is usually warm, but variable, this is a guide only

Here are the commonly used (and informal) divisions for killifish in the hobby:

• Lampeyes: a group of killifish generally from Central & East Africa that tend to school and behave more akin to tetras than killifish. Lampeyes usually spawn somewhere in the water column (on plants,et) or deposit their eggs in tight spaces/crevices (rocks, logs, et.).
• Annuals: Annuals can be defined as killifish that can complete part of their lifecycle independent of standing water. That isn't a complete definition, but the statement does create an accurate division. All members of the annuals group are fully equipped to continue the species following periods of seasonal dryness. That means the eggs are deposited in the substrate to prevent total desiccation. These eggs may remain in a state of suspended development (diapause) until the right combination of time, temperature and the addition of water induces hatching. Most species in this group complete their lives under 18 months. Killifish enthusiast generally divide "annuals" into two groups: notho's (old world annual killifish from East & Southern Africa, and South American annuals (which also are sometimes further divided into "divers" & "plowers"). Looking at the above table and paying particular attention to the tropical genera, note that many species eggs can be particularly sensitive to lower temperatures during incubation.
• Semi-Annual: this group is known as the switch spawners. the genus fundulopanchax anchors this group, with genera callopanchax. Switch spawners are defined as killifish who deposit eggs either amongst the plants higher in the water column, or buried in the substrate, and have a similar bi-functional reproductive biology that falls in between "annualism" and non-annualism. A more accurate statement would be; some members tend toward a annual reproductive cycle more than others; the paludopanchax sub-genus of the fundulopanchax and the genus callopanchax are in practice: annuals, whereas peat incubate can be variable at best with Fp.oseri & Fp.cinnamomeus

• Non-annuals: this is a large and variable group. As a whole, all member species eggs can develop and hatch while entirely submerged in water. Whether every species in this group can likewise be incubated in peat is a subject for discussion. Usually, most African species eggs can  develop out of water, especially most aphyosemions, whereas this procedure is not usually practiced with most new world Rivulines. This group can roughly be further divided by interest and geography:

  -Panchaxes, a name that has no implied relationship attached to it except that it is a older term used for some currently reclassified/renamed killifishes, and is now only currently associated with the Asian genus Aplocheilus, the African genus Pachypanchax  and some Epiplatys (rocket panchax, et).

  -Riv's & Fundulus: these two New World genera are actually in the different families according to some references. Current classification not withstanding, they are at least allied by similar reproductive biology and geography. Most Rivulus are of Tropical-subtropical origin while many Fundulus are of temperate origin, some examples extending into the tropics

  -Pup fishes; this is widespread group that includes the commercially available Flagfish, highly endangerd members Cyprinodon, the old world genus Aphanius, the South American Orestias. Generalizations would be difficult for this dispersed group, for while relatively homogenous and generic in appearance, their habitats are  variable if not outright "extreme" in some places
  -African Non-Annuals: Again this is a varied group, but entirely confined to the Sub-Saharan region of Central and West Africa. This group includes the large genus Aphyosemion and a plethora of smaller genera: scriptaphyosemion, diapteron, et. Every member of this group's eggs may primarily be incubated in water and many can be secondarily incubated in peat, though usually for a much shorter period than annuals.

• Killifish. (2007, December 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:52, December 26, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killifish&oldid=176426218

• Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed December 26, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.org.

• Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative, the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.