| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 11.04 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 13 - 18 m |
| Africa: Maleri, Chinyankwazi and Chinyamwezi islands in Lake Malawi, Malawi (Ref. 57549). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: 3 lateral spots on body; supra-pectoral spot in contact with upper lateral line; supra-pectoral spot about 1.5 times supra-anal spot; supra-anal spot in contact with upper lateral line; breeding males with wide yellow marginal band in anal fin, blue breast, no black submarginal band in dorsal fin and white margin of dorsal fin (Ref. 57549).
Description: dorsal snout profile straight to slightly concave in large males; gape inclination of mouth about 45° to horizontal; jaws isognathous; teeth on dentary and premaxilla in 3-4 rows, outer row with small bicuspid teeth in juveniles and females, large unicuspid teeth in mature males; lower pharyngeal jaw with small bicuspid teeth, posterior row with slightly enlarged teeth; gill rakers short and broad-based; 1-3 pored scales posterior to lateral line; 2-3 scale rows on cheek; 3-4 rows of teeth in upper and lower jaw (Ref. 57549).
Coloration: breeding males: head dark blue/gray with blue interorbital bars; cheek and opercle with yellow green and light blue highlights; gray opercle spot and throat; black subocular bar observed in specimens underwater, bar invisible almost immediately when specimens removed from lake; lateral portion of body blue with 6 black bars; belly and breast gray/blue; caudal peduncle dark blue; dorsal fin blue with blue/white lappets, orange spots in posterior 2-6 membranes; caudal-fin rays gray; proximal 1/2 of caudal-fin membranes gray, distal 1/2 blue/white; proximal 2/3 of anal-fin spines and membranes black/dark gray, distal 1/3 yellow/white; pectoral fin with gray rays and clear membranes; pelvic fin black with white leading edge (Ref. 57549).
Females: head gray; cheek, opercle, and preopercle with blue and green highlights; dark gray opercle spot and white throat; lateral portion of body blue ground color with posterior portion of scales outlined in yellow; belly and breast white; 3 very distinct spots; supra-pectoral spot below 11-13th scale in contact with upper lateral line and about 1.5 times size of supra-anal spot; supra-anal spot at 21-23nd scale above and in contact with upper and lower lateral line and covering about 3 scales; caudal spot about same diameter as supra-anal spot on caudal base and extending onto peduncle; 3 vertical bars between supra-pectoral spot and dorsal-fin origin; dorsal fin blue/white with tips of posterior 5 rays orange/brown; caudal fin with gray rays and blue membranes; anal fin with gray rays and blue membranes and 4 yellow ocelli; pectoral fin clear; 1st ray and membrane of pelvic fin black with white leading edge, remaining portion clear (Ref. 57549). |
| Found in sand/rock interface and over sandy patches around the islands, between 13 and 18m; territorial males build spawning bowl from beneath flat rocks; spawning occurs underneath the rock; females and non-territorial males occur in small groups (up to 10 individuals) and feed on plankton in the water column 1-3 m above the bottom (Ref. 57549). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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