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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Astatoreochromis: Greek, astato = unstable + Greek, rheos = stream + Greek, chromis = a marine fish without identification, dealing with perch; cited by Plinius (Ref. 45335); straeleni: Named in honour of Prof. V. Van Straelen, Director of the Musée du Congo Belge, Tervuren, Belgium from 1926 to 1954 (Ref. 126033).
More on author: Poll.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059); 3°S - 8°S
Africa: Rusizi, Lukuga and Malagarazi basins and Luiche River, a small affluent of Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 5602, 126033); apparently also enters Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 126033).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: Astatoreochromis straeleni can be distinguished from A. alluaudi by the possession of 3-4 anal spines vs. 4-7; 16-18, exceptionally 19, dorsal spines vs. 17-19 dorsal spines, rarely 16 or 20 (Ref. 126033).
Aastatoreochromis straeleni is primarily a riverine species, prefering clear water and caught in swampy flooded areas and marginal vegetation with a high water transparency (Ref. 126033). In Lake Tanganyika, it is found only at the mouths of rivers and in their associated swamps (Ref. 6770). Omnivorous, swamp-dweller (Ref. 6770), reported to feed mainly on snails, ostracods and insects (Ref. 126033). This species is a mouth-brooder (Ref. 126033).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
This species is a mouth-brooder (Ref. 126033). Nothing has been reported about its breeding period, but most probably it reproduces at the start of the short dry season from December to January (Ref. 126033).
van Oijen, M.J.P. and J. Snoeks, 1991. Astatoreochromis. p. 9-10. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 5602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01514 (0.00700 - 0.03275), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).