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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environnement : milieu / zone climatique / profondeur / gamme de distribution
Écologie
; eau douce benthopélagique. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi where it is widely distributed.
Taille / Poids / Âge
Maturité: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.3 cm TL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 4996)
Description synthétique
Clés d'identification | Morphologie | Morphométrie
Épines dorsales (Total) : 16 - 17; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total) : 10 - 11; Épines anales: 3; Rayons mous anaux: 9 - 10; Vertèbres: 31. Resembles P. fenestratus in form and in ecology, but differs from it in having a larger eye and consequently narrower preorbital, in the more numerous teeth in the upper jaw and on the lower pharyngeal, the higher number of gill rakers, the anterior of which, although short, are acute and well defined and in the higher modal number of dorsal spines. Differs from P. virgatus in the absence of enlarged pharyngeal teeth.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Inhabits shallow, rocky sediment-free habitat. Feeds on 'aufwuchs' attached to rocks, but also takes small invertebrates, including zooplankton when this is abundant (Ref. 267).
Cycle de vie et comportement reproducteur
Maturité | Reproduction | Frai | Œufs | Fécondité | Larves
Parents practice co-operative care of young by grouping together and setting up protective stations close to one another; releasing their young and embarking upon parental care. Every protective mantle is very close to the next in such a way that young can move from one parent to the next.
Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4996)
Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Menace pour l'homme
Harmless
Utilisations par l'homme
Pêcheries: commercial; Aquarium: Commercial
Outils
Articles particuliers
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Sources Internet
Estimations basées sur des modèles
Indice de diversité phylogénétique (Réf.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00671 - 0.03113), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Niveau trophique (Réf.
69278): 3.2 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Résilience (Réf.
120179): Haut, temps minimum de doublement de population inférieur à 15 mois (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnérabilité de la pêche (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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