| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
8.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 50 - 75 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in Tanzania and Malawi (Ref. 55898). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: head length 35.5-37.2 %SL; snout length 31.7-36.3 % head length; lower jaw length 32.8-36.4 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; 2/2 inner oral tooth rows; premaxillary pedicel length 24.1-28.1 % head length; gape inclined at about 15° to horizontal; cheek depth 21.9-24.7 % head length; lachrymal depth 18.3-22.0 % head length; interorbital width 18.8-21.7 % head length; eye diameter 31.8-35.8 % head length; predorsal distance 37.8-40.2 %SL; body depth 36.0-38.5 %SL (Ref. 55898).
Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; snout profile almost straight; snout normal in large specimens to blunt in small specimens; mouth small; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral dentition bicuspid, becoming unicuspid posteriorly, teeth relatively short; inner oral teeth tricuspid; both outer and inner oral teeth with dark crowns; 3 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw stout; middle teeth on pharyngeal enlarged to molariform; gill-rakers on lower limb short and stout, some branched (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body brownish yellow; 7 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin pale grey with white tips; grey spots on soft dorsal; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body brown; vertical bars darker brown, not distinct in all specimens; nape, snout and chin dark brown to black; dorsal fin dark grey with white tips; soft dorsal dark grey without spots or stripes; caudal and anal fins dark grey; ventral fins grey 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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