| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
14.85 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; depth range 49 - 126 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Endemic to the southern part of Lake Malawi. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: head length 32.3-34.8 %SL; head width 34.5-38.4 % head length; snout length 35.1-39.0 % head length; lower jaw length 36.4-38.8 % head length; premaxillary pedicel 28.3-30.7 % head length; outer oral dentition mainly unicuspid; lachrymal 23.1-26.1 % head length; cheek depth 19.1-23.3 % head length; interorbital width 16.2-17.8 % head length; lower pharyngeal teeth small and slender; predorsal distance 34.6-37.5 %SL; body depth 31.1-36.0 %SL (Ref. 55898).
Description: relatively elongate; dorsal and ventral body profiles evenly convex, symmetric about the horizontal; dorsal head profile slightly convex above eye, concave between eyes; dorsal profile of snout straight; snout long, pointed and angular; mouth small; maxilla extending to about half the distance between snout-tip and vertical at anterior margin of orbit; lower jaw large; mouth and lower jaw inclined at about 25-30° to horizontal; outer oral dentition mainly unicuspid; teeth long, slender and well-spaced; inner oral teeth unicuspid, long and slender; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; lower pharyngeal jaw relatively long and slender; all pharyngeal teeth fine, slender and close-set; gill-rakers on ceratobranchial of moderate size and pointed (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish-yellow; 7-8 pale vertical bars below dorsal fin; bars visible only on dorsal half of body; dorsal fin grey with darker tips; grey oblique bands on soft dorsal; caudal fin with grey spots on inter-radial membranes; anal and pelvic fins pale with grey leading edge (Ref. 55898). Mature males: with dark vertical bands, extending to lower half of body; snout, chin and belly dark; dorsal fin grey with dark tips; soft dorsal dark grey without spots or stripes; caudal fin grey; anal fin dark grey; pelvic fins with black leading edge (Ref. 55898). |
| Biology: |
Occurs usually in sandy and muddy bottoms at great depths and regularly taken below 75 m. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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