| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 11.22 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Africa: Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, Malawi (Ref. 57549). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Diagnosis: 2 lateral spots on body (supra-pectoral and caudal); breeding males: yellow breast and narrow yellow marginal band on anal fin (Ref. 57549).
Description: dorsal snout profile straight (females and immatures) to slightly concave (adult males); gape inclination of mouth about 40° to horizontal; jaws isognathous; teeth on dentary and premaxilla in 3-4 rows, outer row with bicuspid teeth in juveniles and females, some large unicuspid teeth in outer row of mature males; lower pharyngeal jaw thin and set with minute bicuspid teeth, posterior row with enlarged teeth, no wider teeth in the center; gill rakes small but not widened at the base; 1-2 pored scales posterior to lateral line; 2-3 scale rows on cheek: 3 rows of teeth in upper jaw, 3-4 in lower (Ref. 57549).
Coloration: breeding males: head with gray interorbital, green preorbital, blue cheek with green highlights, gray opercle with blue opercle spot, and yellow throat; lateral portion of body blue with green highlights dorsally, gray with yellow highlights ventrally; posterior portions of scales blue; yellow breast and white belly; dorsal fin blue proximally, gray distally with yellow spots, black submarginal band with white marginal band and yellow lappets; dorsal and ventral rays of caudal fin black, middle rays blue with yellow membranes; anal fin with narrow yellow marginal band, rays black with purple membranes; pectoral fin clear; pelvic fin with white leading edge and first 2 rays and membranes black, remaining rays and membranes clear (Ref. 57549).
Females: head gray with white cheek and throat; lateral portion of body gray dorsally, fading to white ventrally; posterior portion of scales blue and anterior portion pale yellow; lateral portion of body with 2 black spots; supra-pectoral spot not in contact with upper lateral line and below 8-12th scale and about 5 times diameter of caudal spot; caudal spot on caudal base; 3 vertical bars between suprapectoral spot and dorsal-fin origin; dorsal fin clear with yellow spots and yellow tips; caudal fin clear with some orange spots proximally; anal fin clear with yellow patches; first 2 membranes of pelvic fin yellow, remainder clear; pectoral fin clear (Ref. 57549). |
| Territorial males construct bowers at the sand-rock interface at depths of 12-18m; females and immature males form small groups and feed on plankton in the water column and on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 57549). |
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Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 22 June 2018 (B1a) Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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