Jelly Bean Tetra - Ladigesia roloffi - Federation of British Aquatic ...

Poll revised the family Phenacogrammus along with other African Alestinae
in 1967. Heiko Bleher collected fish from the poorly know regions of
Northern Zaire collecting from Lake Fwe in the Kassi Province and the
Basin of Oubangui in 1986.
Whilst collecting P. interruptus along with P. ansorgii Heiko also discovered
a new beauty, a totally metallic blue Congo Tetra.
This new species was
appropriately named
Phenacogrammus bleheri n sp.
It has the same body shape and
finage as P. interruptus, but its
blue/purple iridescent colour sure
has the “wow” factor.
The holotype being a male 63mm SL collected from a small tributary of the
Bari river in Zaire on 11th September 1986. Three females were also
collected at the same time ranging in size from 47mm to 60mm SL.
The photograph taken by Heiko Bleher at the moment of collection shows
its outstanding colour of bluish/violet iridescent sheen over the whole body.
P. bleheri belongs to the Hilgendorfi group of the former genus
Alestopetersius, still of uncertain taxonomic level. Poll (1967) recognised 6
species from the Zaire Basin and one being Phenacogrammus smykalai
found in the region of the Lower Niger.
Original manuscript : J. Gery Chemin du Plantier, 24200 sarlat, France.
First published : aqua Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology Vol (4)
Pictures: Blue Congo Phenacogrammus bleheri n sp. Photo: H. Bleher
Red Finned Congo P. altus:
Top adult male; below female collected by H. Bleher.
Photo: B. Kahl.
Congo Tetra P. interruptus: male and female Photos: Dick Mills
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