| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
7.65 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 123 - 147 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in Malawi and Tanzania (Ref. 55898). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 14-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: head length 36.6-39.4 %SL; snout length 35.4-38.2 % head length; lower jaw length 34.5-36.1 % head length; premaxillary pedicel length 28.8-31.47 % head length; outer oral teeth unicuspid; inner oral teeth present, unicuspid; cheek depth 20.4-24.3 % head length; lachrymal depth 23.2-24.5 % head length; interorbital width 17.9-21.4 % head length; lower pharyngeal teeth fine and slender; predorsal distance 39.9-43.2 %SL; body depth 35.5-38.7 %SL (Ref. 55898).
Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; dorsal head profile convex except small specimens with straight dorsal head profile; larger specimens with slightly concave dorsal snout profile; snout pointed and angular; mouth normal; gape almost horizontal; lower jaw inclined at about 10° to horizontal; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral dentition unicuspid or shouldered tricuspid; inner oral dentition unicuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw normal; pharyngeal teeth fine and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb short and pointed; mature males with soft rays of dorsal fin prolonged, but not filamentous (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6-7 vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin with grey base, white submarginal band, and grey lappets and tips; broad grey vertical bars in soft dorsal; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: dark vertical bars on body; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin with grey base, white submarginal band, grey lappets and black tips; broad vertical to oblique grey bands on soft dorsal; caudal fin with black edges; anal and ventral fins with black leading edge (Ref. 55898). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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