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General Information

Scientific Name:

Pachypanchax sparksorum – Loiselle, 2006

Common/Native Name:

Sparks' Killifish / Zono

Type Locality:

Bentainkilotra Creek (14° 52’ 20”S - 48°14’52”E), in the Ankofia River drainage.

Pronunciation:

PACHY-pan-chax spark-SORUHM

Etymology:

Named after the John and Karen Riseng Sparks who first documented a distinct Pachypanchax species in the Ankofia drainage.

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Species Details

Maximum Size:

2.36 inches (6.0 cm) wild collections

Identification:

 Reduced size of pectoral scales distinguishes this species from all other Malagasy Pachypanchax except P. sakaramyi.  Species differs from P. sakaramyi in having unscaled dorsal and anal fin bases and by having a longer dorsal fin base.  Discrete red spots and faint reddish-brown spots on the flanks of both males and females, as well as the presence of a narrow, black anal-fin margin in males also differentiates these two species.

Population differences:

To date this species has been collected only from streams flowing into the Ankofia River and its principle tributary, the Anjingo River.  Collections of Pachypanchax sp. in the Tsinjomorona by A.R. Saunders appear to be a population of P. sparksorum.

Sexual Morphology:

 

First Description:

A review of the Malagasy Pachypanchax (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheilidae), with descriptions of four new species.
In: Zootaxa 1366: 1 – 44 (2006)

Synonyms:

None known

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Habitat Information

Distribution/Collection Locales:
Tsinjomorona Creek:
– 2006 by A.R. Saunders and T. Ravelomana.
Bentainkilotra Creek:
– 2004 by P.V. Loiselle and J. Rasoloariniainina.
Behmamvony Creek:
– 1994 by J. Sparks and K. Riseng.
Anjingo River: – 1992 by P. de Rham

Conservation Status:

Present in substantial numbers throughout its range, to date Pachypanchax sparksorum has neither exotic predators nor competitors to contend with.  Regardless of this P. sparksorum inhabits such a circumscribed range that Loiselle classifies this species as endangered based on WCU criteria (Loiselle, 2006).

Typical Habitat:

Inhabits both main channels and smaller tributaries which flow through semi-degraded deciduous forests.  Water is typically clear with substrates consisting of bedrock interspersed with cobble and patches of sand/gravel mix.  No instream vegetation observed but pools contain thick leaf litter and banks heavily overgrown.

Typical Water Parameters:

pH: 6.8 - 7.8

Temperature: 82.4° F

Conductivity: 28 - 234µS

General Hardness: 34.2 - 40.0ppm

Cohabitates with:

Arius festinus

Teramulus waterlotti

Ambassis natalensis

Scatophagus tetracanthus

Ptychochromis inornatus

Paretroplus damii

Tilapia sp.

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Husbandry Information

Origin of Captives:

No known captive populations currently exist.

Aggressiveness:

Unknown but assumed to be typical for other Malagasy Pachypanchax species.

Tank Size:

Unknown.

Feeding:
In the wild:

Specimens feed on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates.

In captivity:

Unknown.

Water Parameters:

Unknown in captivity.

Tank Filtration/Set-up:

Unknown but assumed to be similar to other Malagasy Pachypanchax species.

Breeding Requirements:

Unknown but assumed to be similar to other Malagasy Pachypanchax species.

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