Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 13°S - 17°S
Africa: Occurs in the south-east arm of Lake Malawi and upper Shire River.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4996)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 14 - 16;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9-11;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 8 - 10;
Vertebrae: 30. Differs from P. marginatus and P. similis in having a group of enlarged pharyngeal teeth and from P. labridens in having a straight snout profile and a larger mouth, with the lower jaw one third or more of the head length.
Inhabits shallow vegetated inshore areas of the lake where it is commonly found around patches of Vallisneria. Feeds on invertebrates including the small gastropod, Gabiella stanleyi (Ref. 267).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. 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. 4996)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundanceBRUVS
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsElectrophoresesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [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): 3.4 ±0.52 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 174 [96, 329] mg/100g; Iron = 1.55 [0.86, 2.96] mg/100g; Protein = 18.5 [17.1, 20.0] %; Omega3 = 0.471 [0.174, 1.320] g/100g; Selenium = 51.7 [21.7, 126.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 59.9 [14.5, 174.1] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.26 [1.53, 3.41] mg/100g (wet weight);