| Nothobranchidae | |
|---|---|
| Bluefin Notho, Nothobranchius rachovii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Subclass: | Neopterygii |
| Infraclass: | Teleostei |
| Superorder: | Acanthopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Suborder: | Aplocheiloidei |
| Family: | Nothobranchiidae |
| Genera | |
|
15, see text |
|
Nothobranchiidae are a family of bony fishes containing roughly 300 species. They are small killifish, usually measuring about 5 centimetres (2.0 in). They are essentially limited to Africa, and were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae (that family is now limited to Malagasy and Asian species, and the single West African Pseudepiplatys annulatus). They live in fresh water but are somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored.
Members of genus Nothobranchius are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfishes. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up. Pools of this type are often sprayed with poison to reduce mosquito populations, which also kills the fish. As might be expected with short-lived species living in an ephemeral habitat, many of these fish reach sexual maturity within weeks of hatching, and are prolific breeders.