Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Orthochromis: Greek, ortho = straight + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 3°S - 6°S
Africa: endemic to Malagarasi River, in Burundi and Tanzania (Ref. 28906).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 20. Scales on chest and belly are abruptly different in size compared to those on flank. No scales on cheek.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Essentially riverine with tendency to colonize quieter waters; near bands of reeds and vegetation fringing the river; very small eggs, plant and insect debris and small crustaceans found in stomach; most probably a mouthbrooder (Ref. 28906).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mouthbrooding by females.
De Vos, L. and L. Seegers, 1998. Seven new Orthochromis species (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Malagarasi, Luiche and Rugufu basins (Lake Tanganyika drainage), with notes on their reproductive biology. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 9(4):371-420. (Ref. 28906)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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