Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Stigmatochromis: Greek, stigma = mark, signal + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 13614); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Known from the holotype caught near Vua in the northern part of the lake. Two other populations have been reported from Senga Bay and from the east coast near Fort Maguire (Ref. 5595).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5697)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Diagnosis: The presence of a supra-pectoral and supra-anal spots, which do not extend to the base of the dorsal fin, plus a precaudal spot and a series of small spots along the base of the dorsal fin places this species in Stigmatochromis (Ref. 87930). It is further diagnosed by the presence of mostly unicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the lower jaws; the short head length, 33.3% of standard length vs. 36.3-39.8%; and the distance between snout and dorsal-fin origin, 34.5% of standard length vs. 34.8-43.2% (Ref. 87930).
Is irregularly seen over sand in the intermediate habitat (rock-sand habitat) or off sandy beaches. Feeds from the surface of the sand; hovers about 50 cm above the substrate and screens the sand for any moving prey (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Stigmatochromis. p. 463-464. 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. 5697)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [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): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
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).
