Placidochromis mbunoides Hanssens, 2004

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  7.25 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 98 - 122 m
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in Malawi (Ref. 55898).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: head length 35.9-37.0 %SL; snout length 27.9-31.3 % head length; lower jaw length 32.7-37.9 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; 1/1 to 1/2 inner oral tooth rows; premaxillary pedicel length 23.8-26.4 % head length; lachrymal depth 15.4-18.0 % head length; cheek depth 19.2-21.5 % head length; interorbital width 19.2-22.9 % head length; lower pharyngeal jaw length 28.7-30.5 % head length; body depth 32.2-35.6 %SL (Ref. 55898). Description: dorsal body profile slightly more strongly convex than ventral body profile; snout moderately long but not pointed; gape inclined at about 20° to horizontal; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth slender, mixed bicuspid and tricuspid, becoming unicuspid posteriorly; inner oral teeth shouldered tricuspid or unicuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye relatively large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile in most specimens; lower pharyngeal jaw normal; all pharyngeal teeth small and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb short and slender (Ref. 55898). Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body brownish; 6 very faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin pale grey with thin faint grey submarginal band and dark tips; soft dorsal with pale grey spots; all other fins pale (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; vertical bars faint; nape, snout and chin dark grey; dorsal fin with grey submarginal band and white tips; grey oblique bands on soft dorsal; caudal and anal fins dark grey; ventral fin grey with dark grey leading edge (Ref. 55898).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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