Lyretail Killifish Identification Guide
Spot the lyretail killifish by its red-spotted orange-brown body and the distinctive lyre-shaped, pointed-lobed tail of males.
Read the full Lyretail Killifish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Small, slender body, up to about 2.4 inches
- Orange-brown to olive base color with rows of small red spots
- Elongated, lyre-shaped caudal fin with pointed upper and lower lobes, most pronounced in males
- Dorsal and anal fins edged in red and white
- Females are plainer in color with shorter, rounded fins
- Upturned mouth typical of surface-feeding killifish
Common look-alikes
- Blue gularis: much larger overall with more extended, blade-like fin points rather than the lyretail's balanced lyre shape
- Gardner's killifish: has a rounded caudal fin rather than the distinctive lyre shape
- Emperor killifish (West African trade type): similar spotting pattern but generally lacks the fully lyre-shaped tail
Where you'll see one
The lyretail killifish is native to Gabon and coastal Central Africa, where it inhabits slow-moving forest streams, swamps, and shaded pools rich in leaf litter. It is a long-lived, non-annual killifish popular in aquaria for its manageable size and striking tail shape, and it tolerates a wider range of water conditions than many seasonal-pool killifish relatives.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recognize a male lyretail killifish?
Look for the characteristic lyre-shaped tail with pointed upper and lower lobes, combined with red spots over an orange-brown body and red-white edged dorsal and anal fins.
How is the lyretail killifish different from the larger blue gularis?
The lyretail stays much smaller and has a balanced, lyre-shaped tail, while the blue gularis grows considerably larger with more extreme, blade-like pointed fin extensions.