Morphology Data of Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Stauffer, J.R. Jr., R.M. Cleaver-Yoder and A.F. Konings, 2011
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors always different colors between mature adults
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: The presence of supra-pectoral and supra-anal spots, which do not extend to the base of the dorsal fin, combined with a snout length longer than the post-orbital head length distinguishes this species as a member of Stigmatochromis (Ref. 87930). It is further diagnosed by the presence of mostly unicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the lower jaws; Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos has a narrower interorbital width than S. melanchros, 13.7–16.2% of head length vs. 19.3–20.5%, and a shorter snout to pelvic-fin origin than S. melanchros and S. modestus, 38.4-40.3% of standard length vs. 42.2-44.6% and 42.2-46.9% respectively; the distance between the dorsal fin origin and the posterior anal fin insertion is shorter in S. macrorhynchos, 51.2–51.8% of standard length, than in all other Stigmatochromis species, 53.5–57.2%; the distance between the anterior dorsal fin to pelvic-fin origin of S. macrorhynchos, 27.7–30.0% of standard length, is shorter than in S. modestus, 30.3–33.8%, S. woodi, 31.9–38.1%, and S. melanchros, 35.7–36.1%, and longer than in S. pholidophorus, 26.8%, and S. pleurospilus, 27.5%; the snout length of S. macrorhynchos, 38.0–41.2% of head length, is longer than in S. modestus, 33.5–37.4%, and S. pholidophorus, 37.1%; the smaller head depth of S. macrorhynchos, 59.8–63.6% of head length, further distinguishes it from S. woodi, 64.1–75.8%, and S. melanchros, 67.8–76.8% (Ref. 87930).

Description: Jaws strongly prognathous; teeth on jaws in 3 rows; teeth in outer row unicuspid; 21-26 teeth in outer row of left lower jaw (Ref. 87930). Scale rows on cheek 3; lateral-line scales 32-34; pored scales posterior to hypural plates 1-2 (Ref. 87930). Gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 10-12, with 4 on epibranchial (Ref. 87930).

Colouration: Males with dark gray head anteriorly fading to light gray/silver posteriorly; pale yellow outline of lower jaw; laterally dark blue/gray dorsally, fading to silver ventrally with 9 dark gray bars; scales with blue highlights; dorsal fin pale yellow with light yellow/white markings; blue/white lappets with dark submarginal band; caudal fin light gray with blue/white markings; anal fin with black spines and membranes; dark gray rays and membranes with light red and yellow ocelli; pelvic fins black and pectoral fins clear (Ref. 87930). Females with dark gray interorbital and white/silver cheeks and operculum; laterally, silver with yellow highlights; dorsal fin clear with faint orange marginal bar and yellow highlights; caudal fin clear with yellow markings in membranes; anal fin clear with several yellow ocelli; pelvic fin clear with white leading edge; pectoral fin clear (Ref. 87930).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Stigmatochromis macrorhynchos

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 32 - 34
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 10 - 12
on upper limb 4 - 4
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 15 - 16
Soft-rays total 10 - 11
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 8 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     
Soft-rays   13 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  beneath origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   5 - 5
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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