Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Placidochromis: Latin, placidus = of peaceful or tranquile appearance + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); platyrhynchos: From the Greek "platus" = flat and "runchos" = snout, referring to the flattened snout (Ref. 55898).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 74 - 147 m (Ref. 55898). Tropical
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in Malawi and Tanzania (Ref. 55898).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55898)
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 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).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hanssens, M., 2004. The deep-water Placidochromis species. p. 104-197. In J. Snoeks (ed.) The cichlid diversity of Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa: identification, distribution and taxonomy. Cichlid Press, El Paso, USA. (Ref. 55898)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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