| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
6.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 50 - 70 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, present in the southeastern arm of the lake in Malawi (Ref. 55898). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: head length 35.4-36.4 %SL; snout length 30.0-33.3 % head length; lower jaw length 40.0-41.3 % head length; premaxillary pedicel length 34.0-35.6 % head length; lachrymal 18.2-19.6 % head length; eye diameter 35.3-36.1 % head length; interorbital width 17.8-20.0 % head length; 21-24 gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch; predorsal distance 37.7-39.1 %SL (Ref. 55898).
Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; ventral body profile almost straight in some specimens; dorsal head profile straight below eye; snout moderately long, pointed and angular; mouth large; gape inclined at about 20° to horizontal; maxilla extending beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth small, mixed bicuspid, tricuspid or shouldered tricuspid, close-set anteriorly, becoming unicuspid and more widely set posteriorly; inner oral teeth shouldered tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw normal in shape; all pharyngeal teeth fine; gill-rakers on lower limb long and slender (Ref. 55898).
Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 6 faint vertical bars below dorsal fin; all fins pale; dorsal fin with some faint spots; spots merged into oblique bars on soft dorsal (Ref. 55898). Mature males: dark snout, lips, chin and belly; dorsal fin with grey base, thin white submarginal band, and dark lappets and tips; broad dark oblique bands in soft dorsal; anal fin dark; dark leading edge to ventral fin (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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