Press Release: Expedition to Bijagós reveals freshwater fish

[dbcm]

A Portuguese expedition, called "FM Bijagós 2004", revealed freshwater tropical fish abundance in African remote islands.

Bijagós is an archipelago of more than 80 islands located in Guinea Bissau, West Africa.

FM Bijagós 2004 took place between 16 and 24 May, 2004.

The two expedition members, Miguel Figueiredo and Delfim Machado, explored Orango, one of the most remote islands of the archipelago.

They have found twelve species of freshwater fish, some of them are still not identified.

This was the first ever made study about the Bijagós freshwater fish.

The main purpose was to prepare a larger scientific expedition to the archipelago that will take place next year, at the end of the rainy season.

This expedition is supported by APK (Portuguese Killifish Association) and by APC (Portuguese Cichlid Association).

Detailed data about Bijagós FM 2004 can be found at this site:

http://fmbij2004.xpto.org

All the pictures of that site can be used by the press, except for the map of Orango which is a satellite image with copyright..

Extra press release pictures can be found here:

http://fmbij2004.xpto.org/press

Lisbon, 14th June 2004
The FM Bijagós 2004 team

[Seedy]

Nifty...Thank you for sharing the info...

[skiitswitch]

sweet! Woot - do you have any of those fish yet??

[highplainsdrifter]

That's great. I'll look forward to an update on the future expedition.

[dbcm]

hemichrimis sp


Tilapia guineensis


Sarotherodon melanotheron


and now something different
Saratherodon melanotheron fry in salt water!


Can anyone identify the Hemichromis?

[highplainsdrifter]

It looks to be H. lifalili.

[jonah]

That's interesting. On another forum I use there's a discussion about cichlids in marine environments. Can I show your picture to them?

[dbcm]

yes, please!

what is the forum?

[highplainsdrifter]

Originally posted by jonah
That's interesting. On another forum I use there's a discussion about cichlids in marine environments. Can I show your picture to them?

That is an interesting topic. Care to share any observations or general points of interest? (Or, perhaps a Cichlids in marine enviroments topic should be started in the education forum...)

[jonah]

dbcm: The forum is www.fishforums.com
There's a subject under Central American Cichlids.

The discussion was over somebody keeping their cichlids (I forget which one) in marine conditions. I pointed out that cichlids do have a higher tolerance for salt than most freshwater fish and that many scientists believe that it's their tolerance that has allowed them to migrate to so many different areas. Probably by moving in the brackish areas up and down the coasts. They're are some cichlids that are considered true brackish species, but as we all know, most are freshwater.

I personally wouldn't keep cichlids in a marine tank, but I could see how it might work.

[jonah]

Originally posted by dbcm
yes, please!

what is the forum?

I forgot to say thanks. Thanks.

[dbcm]

Hemichromis sp.

http://galerias.escritacomluz.com/dbcm/Peixes/aby

note the third black spot (without breeding colors)