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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Ctenopharynx: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, pharyngx = pharynx (Ref. 45335); pictus: From the Latin "pictus" = painted, coloured (Ref. 55925).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 78 m (Ref. 55925). Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Monkey Bay, Nankumba, Otter Point, Domwe and Thumbi West Islands and the north end of Lake Malawi.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4981)
Diagnosis: high number of gill-rakers on lower outer arch (32-38); long head, 35.6-40.6% of standard length, and correlated with this a more posterior position of dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins; long premaxillary pedicel, 33.0-38.4% head length (Ref. 55925).
Inhabits rocky areas with a deposit of fine sediment (Ref. 267, 55925), but also found on soft-bottom habitats (Ref. 55925). Feeds on small invertebrates, mainly benthic copepods (Ref. 267, 55925) obtained by sucking up the fine sediment and passing it over the gill-rakers (Ref. 267).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Ctenopharynx. p. 60-61. 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. 4981)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01862 (0.00830 - 0.04177), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
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).