Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Otopharynx: Greek, ous = hear + Greek, pharyngx = pharynx (Ref. 45335); spelaeotes: The specific epiteth is derived from the Greek and means cave dweller (Ref. 82798).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi (Ref. 82798).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 82798)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. A medium-sized cave-dwelling haplochromine with relatively deep body with greatest body depth at base of eighth or ninth dorsal spine (Ref. 82798). Otopharynx spelaeotes has a larger eye, 36.1-38.4% of head length, than most other Otopharynx species, and it has fewer lateral-line scales, 31-33, than Otopharynx argyrosoma (Ref. 82798). It differs from Otopharynx lithobates by having more teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw (18-24), fewer gill rakerson the ceratobranchial (11-13) and by the male breeding coloration that includes yellow/orange ocelli on the anal fin and a blue/black dorsal fin with a very narrow white margin with orange/red lappets (Ref. 82798). It is distinguished from Otopharynx antron by a larger horizontal eye diameter (36.1-38.4% of head length), a shallower caudal peduncle, and more teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw (Ref. 82798).
This species has a preference for large caves and is therefore often found in rocky habitats that consist of large boulders (Ref. 82798). Most individuals are seen solitary and often at a depth of more than 10m (Ref. 82798). The mode of feeding consists of scavenging material lying on the rocky substrate of their environment (Ref. 82798).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Cleaver, R.M., A.F. Konings and J.R. Stauffer Jr., 2009. Two new cave-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malaŵi, Africa. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 20(2):163-178. (Ref. 82798)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
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=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this 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).
