A few strange specimens from an expedition in progress in the Angolan Highlands
Three days ago we entered the water a few hundred yards from the source of the Cuito river, which is the primary source of the Okavango Delta. Located in the highlands of Angola, it is an extremely remote area and has seen very little scientific study.
Ichthyologist Paul Skelton is on the expedition to try and get a peek into this unique biological system. I’ve asked him to pick three of the most interesting specimens he’s found so far, and to tell us what he is most excited about.
Black-spot Climbing Perch (Microctenopoma intermedium?)
“This little chap is a bubble nester and is found in the very dense marsh. The individual in the photograph is particularly well-highlighted, possibly more so than I’ve seen lower down in the system. So, is it the same species?”
Copper-stripe Barb (Enteromeus sp.)
“A very beautiful little fish. The reddish tinge is something that is common to these fishes found in dark spaces. Also, characteristic of these dense marshes. Only a few came up, and the question here is what is the species? We don’t know anything about its biology or really its ecology apart from the fact that it is a marsh loving species. ”
Hippopotamyrus Sp.
“This is a real surprise for me to collect with a hand net. It favours flowing waters and one of the features of the environment that we have sampled is that it is a draining marsh with a clear flowing channel down the valley. This fish generates electric signals through a specialized organism in its caudal peduncal and uses the signals to communicate and to detect environmental signals”
This is a post from the field on a National Geographic supported expedition to explore the Okavango River system from source to sand. 90 days, 1,000 miles, 3 countries, 2 rivers, 31 adventurers, 100% open data. Join us in real-time as we explore the beating heart of our planet. IntoTheOkavango.org
