| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
12.75 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 30 - 92 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, known from Mozambique and Malawi (Ref. 55898). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: snout extremely long, 39.8-43.2 % head length; lachrymal deep, 27.9-29.3 % head length; eye small, 26.4-28.5 % head length (Ref. 55898).
Description: large and relatively deep-bodied; dorsal body profile strongly convex; head large; dorsal head profile slightly convex in larger specimens; snout very long; mouth very small; lips thick and fleshy; gape inclined at about 25° to horizontal; maxilla extending a little further than halfway between tip of snout and vertical at anterior margin of orbit; outer oral teeth bicuspid, a few unicuspid teeth posteriorly; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye small; lower pharyngeal jaw normal in shape; all pharyngeal teeth small, slender and densely packed; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: body very pale brownish yellow; 7 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin grey, sometimes with narrow dark submarginal band and white tips; anal fin grey (Ref. 55898). Mature males: dark nape, snout and chin; belly pale; dorsum dark; dorsal fin with dark grey to black submarginal band and white tips; soft dorsal spotted; anal and caudal fins grey; ventral fin with dark 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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