Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 12°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to the southern part of Lake Malawi.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4996)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 17 - 18;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10-11;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 9 - 10;
Vertebrae: 32. Diagnosis: distinguished by the prominence of the posterior part of the mid-lateral and the anterior part of the dorsolateral stripes; further distinguished from P. spilonotus by the lower number of gill rakers (Ref. 267).
Mainly found on rocky areas cleared of sediment. Feeds on eggs (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4996)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundanceBRUVS
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsElectrophoresesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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