red barred killi

Red barred killi is a slender species of medium size. The male has large unpaired fins with long tips. The dorsal fin has 10-12 rays; the anal fin 15-17 rays. The dorsal fin / anal fin position ratio = 1/6. There are 28-31 scales along the lateral line.

Coloration

Male: the color pattern varies among populations, but generally the back is olive green to brown and the flanks are iridescent blue to blue-green with numerous red spots. Anteriorly the spots are arranged in short horizontal bars while posteriorly they form irregular vertical bars with varying frequency and width depending on the populations. The dorsal and anal fins are usually light blue with red spots and stripes. There is a "yellow" phenotype with wide yellow to yellow-orange borders on these fins (sometimes absent in the dorsal fin). Generally, the caudal fin is also light blue, with red spots forming vertical bars in the center and two sub-marginal red horizontal bands (in yellow phenotypes, these upper and lower margins can be yellow).

Female: the body is light gray-brown with dark brown spots and transverse bars arranged in a pattern similar to that of males. The unpaired fins are mainly colorless, but the dorsal and anal fins can be pale yellow or orange with dark red-brown spots at the base. The caudal fin may have slight vertical lines.

The Red barred killi is a fish that lives in small scattered groups and naturally resides in vegetation. Males are territorial and may engage in small skirmishes with each other.

This fish is a micro-predator in its habitat, specializing in hunting small insects.

The Red barred killi is an oviparous fish that deposits its adhesive eggs, approximately 1.4 mm in diameter, in vegetation.