There was a request that I reveal the fish species that I collected in Tanzania in the year 2011. Here is a list of photographs and the species names (some are still unidentified or a closely related fish species is suggested until further tests prove it otherwise) of the sampled fish. As always, feedback would be greatly appreciated:) Please take note that not all the fish were caught on fly; some of the small species were caught with a net and some of the bigger species that could not be fooled with a fly were caught using baited hooks.
Brycinus affinis – mature specimen
Barbus kerstenii – serrated dorsal fin spine and red spot on operculum are key characters
Similar to Barbus barotseensis (Three spots on lateral line)
Distichodus sp. (likely D. petersii) – this fish was caught by a fish eagle; it was sampled before we figured out how to catch them on flowers.
Heterobranchus – only H. longifilis known from the region but never recorded from east coast rivers; this could be a new species.
Aplocheilichthys sp.
Possible Parakneria sp.
Barbus cf. innocens
Clarias sp.
Astatotilapia bloyeti – beautiful male specimen.
Oreochromis sp. – shared features with O. niloticus.
Hydrocynus tanzaniae
Synodontis sp. – squeaker barble
Opsaridium sp. – possible new species
To be continued…
The ‘Brycinus affinis’ is probably one of the most aggressive little fish I have ever come across! Ive seen ones try and eat a 6/0 Olive brush fly in TZ.
Is it not Opsaridium microcephalus? I took it to be the one-Lake nyasa spp