Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Caprichromis: Latin, capra = goat + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Karel Frederik Liem (1935–2009), was Curator of Ichthyology and Henry Bryant Bigelow Professor of Ichthyology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (1972–2009). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 11°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Cape Maclear, Nkhata Bay, and Thumbi West Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4977)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Found over sandy bottom but frequently stays in midwater. A specialized predator which steals brood from females by ramming the head from below. Stomach contents revealed only eggs, larvae and fry (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Caprichromis. p. 36. 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. 4977)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [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): 4.0 ±0.50 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (13 of 100).