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| Pseudomugil connieae - photo© Günther Schmida |
(Allen, 1981)
Popondetta Blue-eye
Description
Males are easily distinguished from females by their brighter colours and longer and more elongated dorsal fin. The body colour is yellow-green in both males and females. The dorsal and anal fins of the males have a broad white or yellow outer margin and black band across the middle. The outer region of the first dorsal fin is yellow. Females are similarly coloured but not as intense, and have much smaller fins, which lack the detailed markings of the males.
When Pseudomugil connieae were initially discovered they were mistakenly identified as Pseudomugil furcatus, a species described by Nichols in 1955, and later placed in a new genus called Popondetta. However, when Gerald Allen realised that they were a new species he called them Popondetta connieae after his wife Connie (Lagos) Allen. When it was discovered that the genus Popondetta already existed, he renamed them Popondichthys connieae. However, in 1989 they were placed in the genus Pseudomugil, where they remain today.
Distribution
Pseudomugil connieae were initially collected in 1978 from Auga Creek, about 5 km south of Popondetta, situated on the northern side of the central dividing range, eastern Papua New Guinea. They are common in the vicinity of Popondetta and have been collected from a number of localities within a 25 km radius.
Habitat & Ecology
Pseudomugil connieae are generally found in small, clear, relatively swift-flowing freshwater streams. Temperature and pH in these streams range from 24-27° Celsius and 7.7-7.9. However, in 1982, Heiko Bleher reported that he had collected them in brackish water in the lower section of the Popondetta River. Body moderately compressed and elongated, growing to a length of around 5 to 6 cm. Two dorsal fins, separated by a small gap, the first much smaller than the second. An egg-scatterer, generally spawning amongst aquatic plants and grasses. Eggs adhere to water plants and hatching occurs around 15 days at a temperature of 25° Celsius. The stomach content of several wild-caught specimens indicated a diet consisting primarily of minute crustaceans and insect larvae with small amount of algal matter.
Remarks
Pseudomugil connieae are a magnificent blue-eye and are much sought after by aquarium hobbyists. It is very important to provide regular partial water changes as I have found this species doesn't like old, acidic water. Try to provide 50% weekly water changes, and keep the pH above 7.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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