Turquoise killifish
Short-lived African fish used in ageing research.
The turquoise killifish is a small annual fish from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It lives in temporary pools and has the fastest sexual maturity of any vertebrate. Scientists study it to understand ageing because it lives only a few months.
- Reaches sexual maturity in just 14 days.
- Lives only 1 to 5 months in the wild.
- Eggs survive dry mud for over a year.
- Native to Zimbabwe and Mozambique only.
- Used as a model for ageing research.
What it is
The turquoise killifish is a small member of the Nothobranchiidae family. It grows to a maximum length of 6.5 cm. This annual fish is native to specific regions in Africa. Its body is adapted for life in temporary water bodies. The species is notable for its extremely short life cycle. It serves as a key subject in biological studies regarding ageing.
Where it lives
This species is found only in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It inhabits ephemeral pools located in semi-arid zones. These areas experience scarce and unpredictable rainfall. The pools dry up regularly, forcing the fish to adapt. They survive in these transient freshwater habitats. The environment dictates their brief existence in the wild.
How it lives
In the wild, these fish live for one to five months. Most individuals survive no longer than two months. Captive specimens may live between three and sixteen months. This variation depends on the strain and conditions. They reach sexual maturity just 14 days after hatching. This is the fastest rate known among vertebrates. Their diet in captivity includes bloodworms and synthetic feeds.
Breeding and life cycle
The fish lay eggs that resist drying out. These eggs enter a state of dormancy called diapause. They can remain inactive in dry mud for over a year. This adaptation allows them to survive when pools vanish. Once rains return, the eggs hatch quickly. This ensures the next generation appears before the water disappears again.
Fish and people
Researchers use this fish to study ageing and disease. It is the shortest-lived vertebrate kept in captivity. Scientists analyse its genome, which has many tandem repeats. These repeats may contribute to its rapid ageing process. Recent work focuses on synthetic diets to test caloric restriction. This helps understand how nutrition affects actuarial ageing in organisms.
Questions people ask about Turquoise killifish
How long does the turquoise killifish live?
In the wild, they live for one to five months, with most surviving only two months. In captivity, they can live between three and sixteen months depending on the strain.
Where is the turquoise killifish found?
This species is native to Africa. It is currently known only from specific locations in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, inhabiting temporary pools in semi-arid areas.
Why is this fish used in scientific research?
It is the shortest-lived vertebrate in captivity and reaches maturity in 14 days. This makes it an ideal model for studying ageing, disease, and the effects of diet on lifespan.
Good reading and sources
- Nothobranchius furzeri on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Nothobranchius furzeri", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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