Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Ophthalmotilapia: Greek, ophthalmos = eye + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.5 - 8.0; dH range: 10 - 12; depth range 2 - 10 m. Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672), preferred ?; 6°S - 9°S
Africa: South end of Lake Tanganyika.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5669)
Found well off the slope, either solitary or in aggregation (Ref. 86760). Feed on microorganisms drifting by in plankton clouds. Females brood their young in the mouth (Ref. 86760). Release fry close to shore and near the surface (Ref. 6770).
Eggs from the cleavage phase and larvae of up to 1.97 cm TL are mouthbrooded by female parents ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 cm SL (Ref. 86760).
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Ophthalmotilapia. p. 303-306. 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. 5669)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 109396)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.00693 - 0.03157), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 2.2 ±0.3 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100) .