Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Rubricatochromis: Name from rubricatus, Latin for red coloured, refers to the bright red colouration on body of most species when in dominance or broodcare; and chromis, a common ending for African cichlid fishes (Ref. 128620).
More on author: Gill.
Issue
Species boundaries in the genus Hemichromis remain unclear (Ref. 81260).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 4 - 16; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 21°C - 23°C (Ref. 1672); 11°N - 4°N
Africa: widely distributed in West Africa, where it is known from most hydrographic basins (Ref. 53405), associated with forested biotopes (Ref. 5644, 52307). Also reported from coastal basins of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nile basin (Ref. 7378), but at least its presence in Cameroon is unconfirmed in Ref. 81260. Ref. 52307 limits this species to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Species boundaries in the genus Hemichromis remain unclear (Ref. 81260).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 8992); common length : 7.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 10.00 g (Ref. 3799)
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Diagnosis: 3 black blotches on sides, the first on opercle, the second at midpoint of body, the third on caudal-fin base; upper profile of snout convex or straight (Ref. 53405).
Occurs in mud-bottomed and sand-bottomed canals (Ref. 5723); some distance inland from the coast, associated with areas of intact or recently disturbed forest cover. Considered the true 'jewel fish' of aquarists, this species is also used as an experimental animal by physiologists and ethologists (Ref. 5644). Attains a maximum of 12 cm in captivity. Aquarium keeping: aggressive; in pairs; minimum aquarium size 100 cm (Ref. 51539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lamboj, A. and S. Koblmüller, 2022. Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the cichlid genus Hemichromis (Teleostei, Cichliformes, Cichlidae), with description of a new genus and revalidation of H. angolensis. Hydrobiologia (2022):1-22. (Ref. 128620)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01549 (0.01310 - 0.01831), b=2.98 (2.94 - 3.02), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.64 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming tm<1 and multiple annual spawning; Fec = 713 mean fec).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
