| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
10.8 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Known from the holotype caught near Vua in the northern part of the lake. Two other populations have been reported from Senga Bay and from the east coast near Fort Maguire (Ref. 5595). |
| Diagnosis: |
Diagnosis: The presence of a supra-pectoral and supra-anal spots, which do not extend to the base of the dorsal fin, plus a precaudal spot and a series of small spots along the base of the dorsal fin places this species in Stigmatochromis (Ref. 87930). It is further diagnosed by the presence of mostly unicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the lower jaws; the short head length, 33.3% of standard length vs. 36.3-39.8%; and the distance between snout and dorsal-fin origin, 34.5% of standard length vs. 34.8-43.2% (Ref. 87930).
Description: Tapered and relatively elongate body with flat ventral outline; lips relatively thick; chin deep (Ref. 55954). Jaws prognathous; teeth on jaws in 3 rows; teeth in outer row unicuspid; 22 teeth in outer row of left lower jaw (Ref. 87930). Scale rows on cheek 4; lateral-line scales 30; 1 pored scale posterior to hypural plates (Ref. 87930). Gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 11, with 4 on epibranchial (Ref. 87930). |
| Biology: |
Is irregularly seen over sand in the intermediate habitat (rock-sand habitat) or off sandy beaches. Feeds from the surface of the sand; hovers about 50 cm above the substrate and screens the sand for any moving prey (Ref. 5595). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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