Placidochromis borealis Hanssens, 2004

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  6.45 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 53 - 61 m
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, only known from Wissman Bay in Tanzania (Ref. 55898).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Diagnosis: head length 35.7 %SL; snout length 30.4 % head length; snout pointed; lower jaw length 37.4 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; gape inclined at about 20° from horizontal; premaxillary pedicel length 26.5 % head length; cheek depth 22.6 % head length; eye diameter 34.8 % head length; body depth 37.2 %SL (Ref. 55898). Description: fairly elongate species; dorsal body profile convex; ventral body profile almost straight; snout profile straight; mouth moderate; maxilla extending to just beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2 series of scales on cheek; upper margin of eye almost touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw stout; some central pharyngeal teeth enlarged and molariform; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898). Coloration: Preserved: Mature male: body brownish yellow; 7-8 vertical bars below dorsal fin; snout and chin dark; dorsal fin grey with narrow black submarginal band and white lappets and tips; soft dorsal with dark grey spots; anal fin with dark grey spots on inter-radial membranes; anal and ventral fins with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 19 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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