Pierre Brichard (2 October 1921 – 1990) was a Belgian explorer and collector-exporter of African aquarium fishes, especially those of Lake Tanganyika.
He discovered new fish species by traveling to different regions of the lake and collecting specimens with nets, traps, and diving equipment. He discovered numerous species, and several fish species are named for him. [1]
He also photographed and documented the fishes he found and sent them to museums and scientists for identification and description.
He wrote a book entitled Pierre Brichard's Book of Cichlids and All the Other Fishes of Lake Tanganyika, which is considered a classic in the field. [2]
He was passionate about the conservation and the study of the lake's biodiversity, and he established a research station and a fish farm on the shore of the lake. [1] The fish farm allowed him to breed fish for export without depleting the lakes population of popular aquarium fish.
He was known as “the fairy of Burundi” for his dedication and enthusiasm. [1]
Neolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard's lamprologus. In addition, the species is also the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. It is closely related to N. pulcher from the southern half of Lake Tanganyika and some have recommended merging the two into a single species.
Greenwoodochromis is a small genus of cichlid fish that are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It is the only genus in the monotypic tribe Greenwoodochromini, however, some authorities have synonymised the Greenwoodochromini with the tribe Limnochromini.
Ectodus descampsii is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it prefers areas with substrates of coarse sand. It feeds on micro-organisms, algae and diatoms. This species reaches a length of 10.4 centimetres (4.1 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours Capitaine Georges Descamps (1855-1938), a Belgian officer in the anti-slavery movement at Lake Tanganyika.
Grammatotria lemairii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it prefers areas with sandy substrates. This species can reach a length of 26 centimetres (10 in) TL. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The species is occasionally kept as an aquarium fish. The specific name honours Lieutenant Charles Lemaire (1863-1925) who was the leader of the Congo Free State Expedition, which collected specimens of fishes at Lake Tanganyika, including the type of G. lemairii.
Chalinochromis brichardi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It builds a nest of rubble which is hidden by plants or algae, and its diet consists primarily of invertebrates. The specific name of this fish honours the fish dealer Pierre Brichard (1921-1990), who was the collector of the type.
Benthochromis tricoti is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa and lives at depths of up to 100 m (330 ft). It feeds on small crustaceans and plankton. It reaches a maximum length of 16.5 cm (6.5 in). Like many other cichlids, it is a mouthbrooder.
Cunningtonia longiventralis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it is found near rocky shores. It eats floating plankton. This species reaches a length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. As of 2011 it is the only known member of its genus. The generic name honours the British zoologist and anthropologist William Alfred Cunnington (1877-1958), the leader of the expedition to Lake Tanganyika during which type was collected.
Neolamprologus buescheri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this cichlid honours the collector of its type, the German ichthyologist Heinz H. Büscher.
Neolamprologus christyi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 13.7 centimetres (5.4 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. This cichlid's specific name honours the British naturalist and explorer Cuthbert Christy (1863-1932) who worked for the Belgian Governemant and who collected the type in either 1926 or 1927.
Lepidiolamprologus hecqui is a species of shell-living cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus leloupi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species reaches a length of 6.1 centimetres (2.4 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the malacologist Eugène Leloup (1902-1981), chief of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika in 1946–1947, the type being collected during this expedition.
Neolamprologus schreyeni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is only known from along the Burundi coast, inhabiting crevices. This species reaches a length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) TL. The specific name honours Andre Schreyen, the nephew of and collaborator with the fish trader Pierre Brichard (1921-1990), who was the collector of the type.
Neolamprologus wauthioni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it inhabits snail shells. This species reaches a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL. The specific name of this cichlid honours René Wauthion, a Provincial Commissioner in the Belgian Congo during the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika of 1946–1947, this expedition collected the type.
The threadfin cichlid is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika found in areas with rocky substrates on which it can graze on algae. This species can reach a length of 18 cm (7.1 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this cichlid honours the British ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas (1900-1993).
Trematocara caparti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) TL. This fish's specific name honours André Capart (1914-1991) the Belgian oceanographer who was a member of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika in 1946 and 1947, during which type of this species was collected.
Tropheus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is found in areas with substrates of solid rock in the central portion of the lake. This species can reach a length of 10 cm (3.9 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours Pierre Brichard (1921–1990) the aquarium fish exporter who provided the authors with the type.
Xenotilapia boulengeri is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs in schools in areas with sandy substrates. Its diet consists of small shrimps and copepods. This species can reach a length of 15.3 centimetres (6.0 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the Belgian-British zoologist George Albert Boulenger (1858-1937), in recognition of his world on the fishes of Lake Tanganyika.
Jean-Pierre Gosse was a Belgian biologist and ichthyologist.
Julidochromis marksmithi is a species of cichlid from the tribe Lamprologini of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae which is endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs on the Tanzanian shore around Kiplipi in Nkasi District.
Telmatochromis brichardi is a species of cichlid from the tribe Lamprologini, part of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae, endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It feeds on algae in rocky habitat. It is a cavity nester which forms temporary pairs for breeding, in which the male defends the territory and the female tends the brood. The specific name honours the aquarium fish dealer Pierre Brichard (1921-1990).