Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Ophthalmotilapia: Greek, ophthalmos = eye + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.5 - 8.0; dH range: 10 - 12; depth range 2 - 10 m. Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672); 6°S - 9°S
Africa: South end of Lake Tanganyika.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5669)
Found well off the slope, either solitary or in aggregation (Ref. 86760). Feed on microorganisms drifting by in plankton clouds. Females brood their young in the mouth (Ref. 86760). Release fry close to shore and near the surface (Ref. 6770).
Eggs from the cleavage phase and larvae of up to 1.97 cm TL are mouthbrooded by female parents ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 cm SL (Ref. 86760).
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Ophthalmotilapia. p. 303-306. 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. 5669)
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 = 0.5625 [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): 2.2 ±0.3 se; based on diet studies.
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).