Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Stigmatochromis: Greek, stigma = mark, signal + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); melanchros: Specific epithet is a noun in apposition derived from the Greek melas, meaning 'black' and from khros meaning 'skin' or 'surface of body' in reference to the overall black color of the breeding males (Ref. 87930).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 13°S - 14°S, 34°E - 35°E
Africa: southern Lake Malawi in Malawi(Ref. 87930).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 87930)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Diagnosis: The presence of 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, combined with a snout length longer than the postorbital head length distinguishes this species as a member of Stigmatochromis (Ref. 87930). It is further diagnosed by the presence of mostly unicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the lower jaws; Stigmatochromis melanchros is distinguished from S. macrorhynchos by a wider interorbital width, 19.3–20.5% of head length vs. 13.7–16.2%, and from S. pholidophorus by a larger preorbital depth in relation to the vertical eye diameter, 95.8–109.3% vs. 75.4%; it is distinguished from S. modestus by a shorter lower jaw, 40.7–44.4% of head length vs. 45.2–48.3%, and by fewer teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw, 13–19 vs. 24–28; it has a smaller horizontal eye diameter, 25.2–26.9% of head length, than S. woodi, 27.0–32.6% (Ref. 87930).
This species is a piscivore that breeds in rocky reefs where territorial males defend the vertical face of a large boulder near the sandy bottom (Ref. 87930).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Stauffer, J.R. Jr., R.M. Cleaver-Yoder and A.F. Konings, 2011. Two new species of Stigmatochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 124(3): 212-222. (Ref. 87930)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 4.1 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
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).
