Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Pseudotropheus: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, tropaion = defeat, a memorial of a fighting war, trophy; because of their specialized teeth were such an obvious feeding adaptation (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: John Johns was a collector of Lake Malawi fishes for the aquarium trade. ‘Johann’ is a German variant of John. Unfortunately, we have no further information about him. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19. Tropical; 22°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672); 13°S - 14°S
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Masinje Rocks, Cape Ngombo.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5663)
Males are brilliant sky blue to dark blue; the colors show a "checkerboard" pattern with alternating light and dark patches; several light-colored "egg spots" on their anal fin; females and juveniles bright yellow-orange in color (Ref. 44091).
Found in rocky habitats of shoreline areas (Ref. 58302). Omnivorous and feed on both plant and animal matter (Ref. 44091).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maternal mouthbrooders; males establish territories and maintain a harem of females; female deposits eggs and picks them up in the mouth for incubation; male spreads out his anal fin showing the "eggs pots"; the females mistake these spots for her eggs and try to also take them inside her mouth; the male then releases his milt and the female takes them in, thus fertilizing the eggs inside her mouth (Ref. 44091).
Maréchal, C., 1991. Melanochromis. p. 258-265. 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. 5663)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
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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): 2.0 ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
