Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Copadichromis: Greek, kopas, -ados = carved + Chromis, see.
Eponymy: Dirk Verduyn, aka Verduijn (1942–2018), was a Dutch cichlid retailer and wholesaler. According to the etymology, he: “…considerably advanced the aquarium hobby in Holland and across its borders.” (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.3 - 8.3; dH range: 5 - 30. Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 12468); 13°S - 14°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring along the eastern shores between Chimwalani Reef and Gome Village.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4979)
Diagnosis: 3 lateral spots on body; supra-pectoral spot about 1.5 times supra-anal spot; supra-pectoral spot in contact with upper lateral line; supra-anal spot separate from upper lateral line; no narrow black submarginal band in dorsal fin; breeding males with yellow breast, wide yellow marginal band in anal fin and white margin in dorsal fin; female C. verduyni cannot reliably be distinguished from those of C. trewavasae (Ref. 57549).
Lives in the sand/rock interface; among congeners, this species defends the least-visible spawning sites; most males defend spawning sites at depths of 9-15m; females and non-territorial males feed from the plankton in the water colmun 1-3m off the bottom and on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 57549).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Stauffer, J.R. and A.F. Konings, 2006. Review of Copadichromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with the description of a new genus and six new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 17(1):9-42. (Ref. 57549)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00674 - 0.03099), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
