CI_2020

Aquarium Hamburg

"For a killie first imported in 1909 or so there are surprisingly few in-depth articles on breeding Callopanchax occidentalis (formerly Aphyosemion sjoestedti as seen here until Clausen caught Boulenger's boo-boo) in the literature, especially when compared to other classic species like blue gularis, australe, bivittatum (or related species) and gardneri. Below is one of the best older pieces on occidentalis. Authored by Charlie Glut, a member of the charter committee of the AKA, it pictures the great old "Aquarium Hamburg" strain of occidentalis. Gone from the hobby by the 1980's, this big aggressive deep red strain was gorgeous. Even the females were a reddish gold color. Today's occidentalis populations lack the intensity of red, the deep indigo throats and the reddish females (simply brown). Scheel's ROTOW also offers a great black and white photograph of the "Aquarium Hamburg" strain. The French Killifish Association published a special issue of their journal on Callopanchax about 15 years ago authored by Cauvet. It centered on Cauvet's extensive collections of the genus Callopanchax as well as his breeding experience. Sadly, it's never been made available in English.

Most photos of occidentalis from 1945 until at least Roloff's mid-60's collection will be the AH strain. They supplied the market and there was no collecting. There are color photos here and there but nothing exceptional that I know of." - Bobby Ellerman

Huwaldi

Originally thought to be a distinct species because of it's different coloration subsequent investigation revealed it's merely a color morph of OCC. It's not unusual in killies to have a 'red' and 'blue' form and OCC proves to be no exception - not unusual when you think that monroviae, one of a small number of species in Callopanchax does as well.

Kumrabai

Another of the Huwaldi phenotypes.

Callopanchax occidentale : Largo, Sierra Leone. Eduard Purzl photo of the fish he collected there.

Roloffia occidentalis : Magbenta

Sahn_Malen

Sembehun

"...found in a small swamp while searching for frog tadpoles, from near Sembehun, Sierra Leone." - Luke Verburgt, fb:killies 26/10/2022

Callopanchax occidentale :Teme Yellah

SL-89

Unknown or aquarium strains

From Parenti 1981:

REMARKS: Fundulopanchax contains species previously assigned to Aphyosemion that are more closely related to Nothobranchius than to the more primitive species of Aphyosemion. This usage of the genus Fundulopanchax differs from that of Loiselle and Glasgow (1971) who limited the group to large forms such as sjoestedti. The designation of a type species for the genus Callopanchax as A. occidentale by the International Commission places the genus Roloffia as an objective synonym of Callopanchax.

This decision has been rejected by many aquarists who believe that Myers (1924b) had either sjoestedti or another species in hand when he named the subgenus Callopanchax, with sjoestedti as the type, even though giving a description of occidentale. It is interesting to note that the sole lot catalogued as sjoestedti in the collection of the AMNH is an aquarium lot of occidentale.

Therefore, it is likely that Myers had specimens of occidentale not sjoestedti in hand when naming Callopanchax.

SUBGENUS CALLOPANCHAX MYERS
Callopanchax Myers, 1933c, p. 184 (type species Aphyosemion occidentale Roloff, by monotypy [proposed as a subgenus]).
Roloffia Clausen, 1966, p. 388 (type species Aphyosemion occidentale Roloff, by original designation).

SUBGENUS RADDAELLA HUBER
Raddaella Huber, 1977, p. 8 (type species Fundulus batesi Boulenger, by original designation [proposed as a subgenus]).
MATERIAL EXAMINED: F. sjoestedti:
Aquarium material: AMNH 21575 (4+/4); F. gardneri: Ghana: SU 64693 (l*/7); F. gulare: Aquarium material: AMNH 20563 (3+/13); F. arnoldi: Nigeria: Port Harcourt: AMNH 21570 (1+/1). F. occidentale: Aquarium material: AMNH 14611 (2*/6).