Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Aulonocara: Greek, aulos = flute + Greek, kara = face, head (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Ulrich Baensch was a biologist who invented (1955) TetraMin, the first universal dry food suitable as the staple food for a multitude of popular aquarium fishes. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.2 - 8.2; dH range: 10 - 30. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060); 13°S - 15°S
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi; reported from in Chipoka, Maleri Islands, Nkhomo, and Usisya.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4975)
Found in areas with scattered rocks on a sandy bottom. Feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Female mouthbrooder (Ref. 2060).
Maréchal, C., 1991. Aulonocara. p. 11-17. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4975)
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): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).