Banded neolebias  (Neolebias lozii)

Description

Discovered as recently as 1993, this small, rare fish is only found in two streams within the Upper Zambezi River floodplain, Zambia. The most distinguishing feature of the banded neolebias is a series of nine to twelve vertical, black bars running down each side of its body. Each bar is clearly defined at the centre, becoming increasingly blurred towards the ends. The body of this species is light olive or olive-grey, darker on the upperparts and much lighter, or even white, on the underside. The eyes are a silvery-grey colour with some specimens possessing an orange tint around the outside. All of the banded neolebias’ fins are transparent and coloured with a faint orange hue, with the exception of the pectoral fins which are entirely colourless (2).

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