Classification / Names
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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
Ecologia
; acqua dolce demersale. Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi (Ref. 82798).
Size / Peso / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.7 cm SL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 82798)
Short description
Chiavi di identificazione | Morfologia | Morfometria
Spine dorsali (totale) : 16 - 17; Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 10 - 12; Spine anali: 3; Raggi anali molli: 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
Maturità | Riproduzione | Deposizione | Uova | Fecundity | Larve
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
Strumenti
Special reports
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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
Resilienza (Ref.
120179): Alto, tempo minimo di raddoppiamento della popolazione meno di 15 mesi (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).