Gamo barb (Enteromius gamo) is fish endemic to Lakes Abaya and Chamo in southwestern Ethiopia

NEWS - A new species of fish, gamo barb (Enteromius gamo), from tributaries to Lakes Abaya and Chamo in southwestern Ethiopia, commonly identified as E. kerstenii, exhibits thickened and serrated last rays in the dorsal fin, few scales in the lateral series (≤ 27) and yellow or orange or reddish spots on the operculum.

The genetic distance between E. gamo from Ethiopia and E. kerstenii specimens from near the type locality in northeastern Tanzania is 7.5-8.3% (COI) and 8.9-10.1% (cytb). Morphologically it is distinguished from E. kerstenii and all its relatives from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda mainly by the short anterior and posterior barbels.

This fish is endemic to Ethiopia known only from the endorheic basins of Lakes Abaya and Chamo. The specimens were collected at the end of the rainy season from an irrigation canal connecting the lower Sile and Hare rivers with a floodplain. E. gamo was found sympatric with Enteromius cf. stigmatopygus at both sampling sites.

The substrate composition was dominated by silt and sand. The elevation of the sampling sites ranged from 1122-1185 meters. E. gamo was absent from the parent rivers and only one specimen was previously found in the coastal habitat of Lake Abaya. In addition, this new species was reported from the Sago River, Lake Chamo basin.

The gut contents contained unidentifiable fine organic detritus, remains of aquatic arthropods (Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera), terrestrial (Formicidae) and some non-organic materials. The specific epithet gamo was chosen to honor the Gamo people who inhabit the area around Lake Abaya.

This fish has a limited distribution range coupled with environmental pressures from agricultural intensification and modification of natural habitats prompted researchers to propose the IUCN status (2012) to Endangered or Critically Endangered.

Original research

Gernot K. Englmaier, Min Chai, Alemayehu Wubie, Rupert A. Collins & Abebe Getahun (2024). A new species within the Enteromius kerstenii complex (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae, Smiliogastrinae) from south-western Ethiopia. Zootaxa 5512 (2): 166-184, DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5512.2.2

Dlium theDlium

Yellow garden spider (Argiope appensa)

Yellow garden spider ( Argiope appensa ) is a species of spider in Araneidae that lives on the coast to forests on islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Black and yellow females are striking and have a length of 5.1-6.4 cm including long legs, while males are brown and have a length of about 1.9 cm. A. appensa lives on cliffs in the hills at 600 m above sea level in Kewu plain to rice fields in the lowlands. They make nests at a height of 1.5 meters from the ground between teak ( Tectona grandis ), sonokeling ( Dalbergia latifolia ), sonosiso ( Dalbergia sissoo ), crown flower ( Calotropis gigantea ) and various grasses. Yellow garden spiders grow in large sizes, but are not toxic to humans. Advanced builds ball-shaped nets and most of them make stabilizers which are zigzag-shaped lines in nets made of thicker bands. This species spends more time in stationary and sits in the middle of the net with its head down to wait for insects to be entangled in fine silk thread. Unli...

Serrated pimpernel (Lindernia glandulifera)

Serrated pimpernel ( Lindernia glandulifera ) is a species of plant in the Linderniaceae family, erect, 8-9 cm long.and white roots. The stems are cylindrical or angular or curved inward. The stems green or dark red or reddish brown. The leaves are opposite, green or dark red or brown, oval or oblong, up to 3 cm long, up to 1 cm wide and serrated margins. The flowers are white and blue, 0.6-0.7 cm wide. This plant grows in colonies in karst areas, clay soils, and areas that are sometimes flooded. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Linderniaceae Genus: Lindernia All. in Auct. Syn. Meth. Stirp. Hort. Regii Taur. 3: 178 (1766) Species: Lindernia glandulifera (Blume) Backer in Onkruidfl. Jav. Suikerrietgr.: 616 (1930) VERNACULAR NAME English: Serrated pimpernel Indonesia: Tapak gergaji Java: Tapak graji Aryo Bandoro Dlium TheDlium Web: https://www.dlium.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium

Skyflower (Duranta erecta)

Sinyo nakal or skyflower ( Duranta erecta ) is plant species in Verbenaceae, a broad shrub or small tree, up to 6 m high, stems growing upright or horizontally with broad clumps, many branches, bark light brown, old tree has axillary spines and grows to form dense colonies. D. erecta has bright green leaves, elliptical to ovoid, pointed or rounded ends, sitting opposite, 7.5 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, a main vein in the middle with several small lateral veins, petiole long 1.5 cm. Flowers are light blue or lavender or white, appear in tight clusters as on terminal stems and axils, often curled or pendulous, blooms in summer. The fruit is a berry having a stalk, small round, yellow or orange or white in color, up to 11 mm in diameter, an eye green in front and containing several seeds. Skyflower grows in dry or humid areas and lots of sun, rocky or sandy beaches, forests, farmland and disturbed places. Plants will grow at a rate of up to half a meter per year. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum:...

Dlium