| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 9.02 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Africa: between Meponde and the Lumessi River, Lake Malawi, Mozambique (Ref. 57549). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: 3 lateral spots on body; supra-pectoral spot about same size as supra-anal spot; 2 vertical bars between supra-pectoral spot and opercle; no black submarginal band in the dorsal fin; males in breeding coloration with blue breast and narrow yellow marginal band in anal fin; males without spots or streaks in the anal fin (Ref. 57549).
Description: dorsal snout profile straight to slightly concave in large males; gape inclination of mouth 30-35° to horizontal; jaws isognathous; teeth on dentary and premaxilla in 3 rows, outer row with small bicuspid teeth in juveniles and females, large unicuspid teeth in mature males; gill rakers short and broad-based; 1-2 pored scales posterior to lateral line; 2-3 scale rows on cheek (Ref. 57549).
Coloration: breeding males: head blue with green highlights; interorbital dark gray with blue highlights; blue and green opercle; posterior portion of throat green, anterior portion light green; lateral portion of body dark blue ground color dorsally, fading to blue/green ventrally, 7 dark gray bars; breast and belly blue with orange markings; dorsal fin blue with green and purple highlights; yellow/white marginal band with yellow/orange lappets; caudal fin with black rays and gray membranes; anal fin blue/gray proximally, yellow/ orange distally; pectoral fin with black rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin with black rays and gray membranes (Ref. 57549).
Females: head gray dorsally, fading to white ventrally; purple and silver highlights on cheek; white throat; lateral portion of body, gray/blue ground color with anterior portion of scales outlined in yellow; 3 black spots; supra-pectoral spot below 11-13th scale separate from upper lateral line and about same size of supra-anal spot; supra-anal spot at 21-23rd scale above and in contact with lower lateral line and covering 2-3 scales; caudal spot same diameter as supra-anal spot on caudal base; 2 vertical bars between supra-pectoral spot and dorsal-fin origin; belly white; dorsal fin clear with pale yellow spots and micro-melanophores, lappets orange; caudal fin clear with scattered micro-melanophores and pale yellow spots; anal fin clear with scattered micro-melanophores with median gray band and 6-8 pale yellow ocelli; pectoral fin clear; pelvic fin clear with scattered micro-melanophores (Ref. 57549). |
| Inhabits rocky shores; territorial males defend bowers at depths of 15-22m; females occur in small groups and normally stay within a meter from the bottom (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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