Melanochromis johannii  (Eccles, 1973)

Bluegray mbuna
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Melanochromis johannii
Picture by Hagblom, F.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Melanochromis: Greek, melas, melanos = black + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19.   Tropical; 22°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672); 13°S - 14°S

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5663)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Males are brilliant sky blue to dark blue; the colors show a "checkerboard" pattern with alternating light and dark patches; several light-colored "egg spots" on their anal fin; females and juveniles bright yellow-orange in color (Ref. 44091).

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

Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Masinje Rocks, Cape Ngombo.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found in rocky habitats of shoreline areas (Ref. 58302). Omnivorous and feed on both plant and animal matter (Ref. 44091).

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

Maréchal, C., 1991. Melanochromis. p. 258-265. 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.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

  Vulnerable (VU) (D2)

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Aquarium: commercial
FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

More information

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Alien/Invasive Species database | BHL | Cloffa | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | DiscoverLife | Faunafri | Fishtrace | GenBank(genome, nucleotide) | GOBASE | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | iSpecies | Public aquariums | PubMed | Scirus | SeaLifeBase | Tree of Life | uBio | Wikipedia(Go, Search) | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record

Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805):  PD50 = 0.5000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01570 (-0.15264 - 0.18405), b=2.97 (2.88 - 3.06), based on LWR estimates for this family-BS (Ref. 93245).
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278):  2.0   ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref. 69278):  Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec<1000).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Low vulnerability (12 of 100) .
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Unknown.