| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 7.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 25 - 67 m |
| Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in the southern part of the lake (Ref. 55898). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Diagnosis: snout 28.3-31.3 % head length; lower jaw length 34.6-37.0 % head length; head 32.1-33.8 %SL; premaxillary pedicel 24.9-28.7 % head length; 6 vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal head profile convex but not strongly convex; cheek depth 16.1-18.8 % head length (Ref. 55898).
Description: medium sized, very elongate species; body fusiform; dorsal and ventral profile almost symmetric about the horizontal; head small; snout long and pointed but not angular; gape inclined at about 20° to horizontal; maxillary extending to vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth bicuspid anteriorly, unicuspid posteriorly, densely packed; inner oral teeth shouldered tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw normal in shape, all teeth fine and slender; gill-rakers on lower limb relatively short (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6 narrow vertical bars below dorsal fin, not extending onto belly; snout darker than base color; dorsal fin light grey; faint grey spots merged into oblique bands on soft dorsal; all other fins pale brownish yellow (Ref. 55898). Breeding males: vertical bars more prominent; snout and nape dark; chin black; belly pale; dorsal fin dark with pale lappets and tips; anal and ventral fins with dark leading edge (Ref. 55898). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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