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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Écologie
; eau douce benthopélagique; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to the northern end and the southwest arm of Lake Malawi.
Taille / Poids / Âge
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.0 cm TL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 4996)
Description synthétique
Clés d'identification | Morphologie | Morphométrie
Épines dorsales (Total) : 15 - 16; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total) : 10 - 11; Épines anales: 3; Rayons mous anaux: 9 - 10; Vertèbres: 31. Distinguished from P. taeniolatus by the more strongly marked pattern of longitudinal and vertical black stripes and in having fewer and larger teeth in the outer row of the upper jaw and on the lower pharyngeal bone, in having more fleshy lips which partly obscure the posterior teeth of the upper jaw, and in having fewer gill rakers, with the anterior ones very low and blunt. Differs from P. virgatus in not having the posterior teeth of the two inner rows of the lower pharyngeal enlarged.
Inhabits rocky shores and adjacent sandy areas. Characteristic of areas where the rocks are covered with a sediment layer. Feeds by blowing sediment off the rocks and picking at food items remaining (Ref. 267).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturité | Reproduction | Frai | Œufs | Fécondité | Larves
Female mouth brooder.
Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. 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. 4996)
Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Menace pour l'homme
Harmless
Utilisations par l'homme
Pêcheries: commercial; Aquarium: Commercial
Outils
Articles particuliers
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Sources Internet
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).
Niveau trophique (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Résilience (Ref.
120179): Haut, temps minimum de doublement de population inférieur à 15 mois (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).