Classification / Names
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Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Copadichromis: Greek, kopas, -ados = carved + Chromis, see; geertsi: Named in honor of Martin Geerts, for his knowledge of the scientific aspects of cichlids (Ref. 47113).
Eponymy: Martin Geerts is an independent researcher, aquarist and leading light of the Dutch Cichlid Association. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 25 - 50 m (Ref. 47113). Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 47113); 11.6 cm SL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11. Depth of body 2.2-2.5 times in SL; head length 3.1-3.4 times in SL (Ref. 47113). Eye diameter 3.0-3.1 times in HL; interorbital width 3.4-3.8 times in HL; premaxillary pedicel 2.5-3.0 times in HL and depth of preorbital 5.7-6.4 times in HL (Ref. 47113). Teeth in 3 rows in upper jaw and 3 to 4 rows in lower jaw (Ref. 47113). Males have only unicuspid teeth; in females the outer row of the lower jaw is mostly bicuspid (Ref. 47113). Length of pectoral fin 2.5-2.8 times in SL (Ref. 47113). Caudal peduncle 6.9-7.4 times in SL; peduncle depth 1.0-1.1 times in its length (Ref. 47113). Scales: 34-35 scales in a longitudinal series (Ref. 47113). Two, sometimes only one, distinct spots on the flank (Ref. 47113).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
The spawning site or nest is normally constructed under and against a rock with a diameter of between 50 to 200 cm; the male excavates the sand from beneath the rock and heaps it up, building a semicircular wall around the spawning site; male spawning sites are usually at least 4 meters apart (Ref. 47113).
Konings, A., 1999. Descriptions of three new Copadichromis species (Labroidei; Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa. Trop. Fish Hobbyist 47(9):62-84. (Ref. 47113)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 3.4 ±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).