| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 10 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 74 - 147 m |
| Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in Malawi and Tanzania (Ref. 55898). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: differs from the other very elongate species (with body depth equal to or less than 31.0% SL) by its wide and horizontally flattened snout, greater body size (7.95-10.00cm versus 7.45 or less) and the absence of scales on the cheek; 6 vertical bars below the dorsal fin; snout 31.3-35.1 % head length; premaxillary pedicel 28.0-30.5 % head length; 3/2 or more inner tooth rows in oral jaws; lower jaw length 40.3-43.6% head length; head 36.3-38.3 %SL (Ref. 55898).
Description: body very elongate; ventral body profile almost straight; slight concavity above eyes; snout flattened dorso-ventrally; premaxillary pedicel prominent; mouth very broad, ventrally set with an almost horizontal gape and flat lower jaw; maxilla not extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth small, close-set and mainly tricuspid; larger specimens with large part of teeth bicuspid in lower jaw; inner teeth tricuspid, very small; inner tooth-rows close-set; no series of scales on cheek; eyes large; upper margin of eye touching, or, in larger specimens, protrudes beyond, dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw normal, with fine and slender teeth, which are close-set; gill-rakers short (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6 faint vertical bars below the dorsal fin; vertical bars most prominent on dorsum; belly uniformly pale; dorsal fin with a grey base, pale lappets and tips; faint oblique grey bands in soft dorsal; all other fins pale yellowish (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; vertical bars more prominent, but visible only on dorsum; snout dark; chin and belly pale; dorsal fin with a grey base, pale lappets and tips; faint oblique grey bands on soft dorsal; all other fins pale yellowish (Ref. 55898). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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