Placidochromis fuscus Hanssens, 2004

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  7.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 87 - 89 m
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, only known from Msaka in Malawi (Ref. 55898).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Diagnosis: head length 33.3-34.8 %SL; head width 40.5-42.9 % head length; snout length 30.2-30.8 % head length; lower jaw length 37.3-39.2 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed bicuspid; gape inclined at about 10-15° to horizontal; premaxillary pedicel length 21.5-24.2 % head length; cheek depth 20.4-21.9 % head length; eye diameter 36.4-37.3 % head length; predorsal distance 36.6-38.6 %SL; body depth 36.6-39.2 %SL (Ref. 55898). Description: dorsal body profile more strongly convex than ventral body profile; dorsal snout profile straight; snout pointed; maxilla extending just beyond vertical at anterior margin of eye; outer oral teeth mainly bicuspid, some tricuspid teeth present; inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw slender; all pharyngeal teeth small, slender and densely packed; gill-rakers on lower limb short (Ref. 55898). Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale brownish yellow; 7 vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin grey; darker grey spots on soft dorsal; caudal fin pale; anal and ventral fins with dark grey leading edge (Ref. 55898). Mature males: body darker; snout and chin dark brown; dorsal fin grey, with thin dark grey submarginal band and white tips; caudal fin with dark edge ventrally; anal and ventral fins dark grey with black leading edges (Ref. 55898).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 19 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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