| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
15 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Komati-Incomati River system, eastern Transvaal, South Africa and coastal lakes in Mozambique. Population threatened by pollution and water extraction. Translocated to dams in the Kruger National Park (Ref. 7248). |
| Diagnosis: |
Description: moderately slender-bodied, with a pointed, somewhat longer snout; eyes large; frontal profile straight; caudal fin truncate to subtruncate (Ref. 52307).
Coloration: body olive-brown, with some shiny turquoise areas on flanks; base of scales reddish; belly pale to whitish; 8-9 dark vertical bars sometimes visible on body; reddish maculae or dots visible in dorsal and caudal fins of males, along with several red egg spots in the anal fin (Ref. 52307). |
| Biology: |
Occurs mainly in pools and quiet stretches of rivers with sandy substrates and dense marginal vegetation. Feeds on small fish and aquatic insects (Ref. 6465). Agamous, ovophilic (Ref. 52307) maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 7248, 52307), the female carries the eggs and larvae (Ref. 7248). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 07 December 2016 (A4ace; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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