Classification / Names
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Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Lufubuchromis: 'Lufubu-' refers to the Lufubu River as the only species of the genus is restricted to the Upper Lufubu and its tributaries in northern Zambia; and '-chromis' a widely used suffix for cichlid genera; relictus: The species name relictus refers to the restricted distribution of this species in the isolated upper region of an ancient plateau; the basal phylogenetic position of Lufubuchromis as the ancient mitochondrial sister group of all other members of the Pseudocrenilabrus lineage suggests that it represents a relict ancient evolutionary lineage, that once may have had a wider distribution; the specific epithet is an adjective (Ref. 122072).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: upper reaches of Lufubu River and its tributaries, in Zambia (Ref. 122072).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 122072)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 27 - 29. Diagnosis: Lufubuchromis relictus differs from Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13; from Ps. nicholsi by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13, more total vertebrae, 27-29 vs. 25-26, and more dorsal fin spines, 15-16 vs. 13-14; and from Ps. pyrrhocaudalis by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13 (Ref. 122072). It is distinguished from Ps. philander philander by more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13; from Ps. philander dispersus and from several other Pseudocrenilabrus species of yet undefined taxonomic status by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13; in addition Lufubuchromis relictus has more dorsal fin spines than Ps. philander dispersus, 15-16 vs. 13-14, and from the putatively new species Pseudocrenilabrus sp. "Upper Kalungwishi" it is distinguished by having more total vertebrae, 27-29 vs. 26 (Ref. 122072). From Orthochromis machadoi it is distinguished by having comparatively large scales on the chest vs. a partially scaleless chest, with only deeply embedded and minute scales; furthermore, Lufubuchromis relictus tends to have more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13-14 and fewer caudal vertebrae, 13-15 vs. 15-16 (Ref. 122072). Lufubuchromis relictus is distinguished from the northern Zambia Orthochromis by having a large orange Pseudocrenilabrus blotch at the distal end of the anal fin vs. absent, and by having comparatively large scales on belly and chest vs. small to minute scales, if present deeply embedded on chest; further, Lufubuchromis relictus is distinguished from the northern Zambian Orthochromis by having fewer caudal vertebrae, 13-15 vs. 16-18, and fewer total vertebrae, 27-29 vs. 30-33 (Ref. 122072). Apart from colouration and its smaller maximum size Lufubuchromis relictus is distinguished from Palaeoplex palimpsest by its shorter dorsal fin spines, length of last dorsal fin spine 10.9-14.2% of standard length vs. 14.7-18.6%, and by having lower total gill raker counts, 10-12 vs. 12-17 (Ref. 122072).
Found in river, about 15 m wide with an estimated depth of 50 cm, rocky with patches of sand and gravel and with few patches of submerged vegetation (Ref. 122072). It is suggested that this species feeds on insect larvae and detritus (Ref. 122072). It is a maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 122072).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Schedel, F.D.B., V.M.S. Kupriyanov, C. Katongo and U.K. Schliewen, 2020. Palaeoplex gen. nov. and Lufubuchromis gen. non, two new monotypic cichlid genera (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from northern Zambia. Zootaxa 4718(2):191-229. (Ref. 122072)
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 = No PD50 data [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): 3.3 ±0.4 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).