Nimbochromis polystigma : aquarium

You can sponsor this page

Nimbochromis polystigma (Regan, 1922)

Upload your photos and videos
Pictures | Google image
Image of Nimbochromis polystigma
Nimbochromis polystigma
Male picture by Reclos, G.J.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Nimbochromis: Latin, nimbus = stormy, rainy + Greek, chromis, a fish, perhaps a perch; it has dark clouded melanic blotches on the body (Ref. 45335);  polystigma: Derived from the Greek "polus" ("polu-" in compound words) = many and "stigma" = mark, spot, referring to the numerous spots on the body and pectoral fins (Ref. 55922).
More on author: Regan.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.5 - 8.5; dH range: 10 - 18; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 76 m (Ref. 55922), usually 0 - 35 m (Ref. 55922). Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 13371); 8°S - 15°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi; widespread.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4989)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11. Diagnosis: dark spots on pectoral fins; pattern of speckles on body and head; without conspicuous dark bars radiating from the eye; no downward-directed snout; mouth terminal; premaxillary pedicel length <34% head length (Ref. 55922).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Most common in mixed rock-sand habitats and vegetated areas (Ref. 55922). Occurs in small groups in rocky areas with beds of Vallisneria and Potamogeton (Ref. 3817). Feeds mainly on fish (Ref. 267). Hunts in pairs (Ref. 3817) or in large groups (Ref. 3817, 55922). When singly, sometimes ambushing prey by lying motionless on the substrate, but not on its side (Ref. 55922).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Female takes brood into her mouth and takes care of the young.

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Maréchal, C., 1991. Nimbochromis. p. 296-299. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4989)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 20 June 2018

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Spawning aggregation
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development
Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance
BRUVS
References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Electrophoreses
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Nutrients
Mass conversion
Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins Misc.
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision

Tools

Special reports

Download XML

Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Alien/Invasive Species database | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GenBank: genome, nucleotide | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5312   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01514 (0.00700 - 0.03275), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.2   ±0.73 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Low vulnerability (13 of 100).