Aphyosemion Australe Location codes

Aphyosemion australe, the Cape Lopez Lyretail or Chocolate Lyretail, is one of the most popular and widely kept killifish species. Unlike many killifish, its natural color variations are not as intensely tied to specific, narrow locations as in some other Aphyosemion species. However, distinct populations and captive-bred strains do exist and are tracked with codes.

Here is a breakdown of the location code system for A. australe.

Official Location Codes (From the Killifish Master Index)

These codes are assigned by the A.K.A. (American Killifish Association) and are the standard reference. They refer to the original wild collection points.

  • AUS A 77/1: This is the original and most famous code for the classic “Cape Lopez” form. It was collected by R. Wildekamp and H. Linke in 1977 near Cape Lopez, Gabon. This is the orange/red variety that is the aquarium standard.
  • AUS A 90/3: Another collection from Gabon, often very similar to the 77/1 form.
  • AUS A 91/10: A collection from the N’Toum area, Gabon.
  • AUS A 97/24: A collection from the Kangue village area, Gabon.
  • AUS N 01/1: A significant collection from N’Dogo Lagoon, Congo. This population is known for often having more yellow and a different spotting pattern on the caudal fin compared to the classic Cape Lopez form.

How to read the code:

  • AUS: The species code for Aphyosemion australe.
  • A or N: The country code (e.g., A for Gabon, N for Congo).
  • ##/##: The year of collection and the collection number from that year (e.g., 77/1 means the first collection in 1977).

Common Captive-Bred Strains (Trade Names)

Over decades in captivity, breeders have selectively developed stable color varieties. These are not wild location codes but are universally recognized strain names.

  • Gold: A very popular strain with a beautiful golden-yellow body and red spotting. This is a captive-bred mutation.
  • Orange: The standard form, essentially the domesticated version of the classic Cape Lopez (AUS A 77/1).
  • Chocolate: A darker strain with rich browns and reds. The name is a direct translation of the species name “australe” (meaning “southern”) but is often used for this specific darker phenotype.

Killifish Breeding