| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 19.2 cm SL (male/unsexed); 16.3 cm (female) |
|
benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish |
| Africa: Coastal rivers of Kenya from the Mwena River to the lower Athi below Lugard's Falls; also near its mouth, including Lake Chem Chem; Lower and middle Tana River, Northern Uaso Nyiro, Juba system and Webi Shebeli; Nguruman; and Ethiopia (Ref. 5166). Probably also in Lake Momello, south of the Kenya-Tanzania border (Ref. 5166, 118638). Three subspecies are recognized: Oreochromis spilurus niger, Oreochromis spilurus percivali and Oreochromis spilurus spilurus. |
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Dorsal spines (total): 14-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 28-30. Description: Scales on cheek in 2 or 3 series (Ref. 2). Genital papilla of male conical or club-shaped, with a sub-terminal pore (Ref. 2). Colouration: Females and immature males have a yellow-buff background colour with a series of mid-lateral blotches and a more dorsal parallel series (Ref. 2). Mature males golden-yellow; conspicuous bright blue areas on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; orange or red dorsal lappets (Ref. 2). |
| Feeds on insects, plants and diatoms (Ref. 2). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 April 2021 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Known from the coastal rivers of Kenya from the Mwena River near the Tanzania border (Ref. 2, 52331) to the Sabaki-Galana below Lugard's Fall (Ref. 2, 13332, 52331). It is also known from pools and lakes in the Athi flood-plain and coastal lagoons near its mouth (Ref. 2, 30558, 52331), including the warm and saline Lake Chem Chem (Ref. 2, 52331), and Voi (Ref. 30558). Further, it occurs in Lower and Middle Tana River (Ref. 2, 13332, 52331) and the Northern Ewaso Nyiro (Ref. 2, 52331). It is introduced in many dams and river systems (Ref. 52331), including Lake Kamnarok (Ref. 52331), Lake Naivasha (Ref. 7270), Kerio drainage (Ref. 52331) and Lake Turkana system (Ref. 52331). The species does not occur in the Southern Ewaso Nyiro (Ref. 52331). |
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