Thoracochromis brauschi (Poll & Thys van den Audenaerde, 1965)
photo by MNHN

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  10.1 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to the Fwa River (Sankuru River, Kasai drainage, middle Congo River basin) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 13455, 52307, 82322).
Diagnosis:  Description: relatively deep-bodied; head short (shorter than in T. callichromus); frontal profile steep, straight to slightly rounded; caudal fin slightly rounded to subtruncate (Ref. 52307). Coloration: body brownish in both sexes, females paler; belly more whitish; several rows of dark dots or maculae in dorsal and caudal fins of both sexes; dark bar from eye to corner of mouth, slightly posterior a second short vertical bar on opercle; bars much more intense in courting males; adult males bright red on lower parts of cheeks, opercles and flanks, and sometimes on parts of the belly as well; bluish coloration occasionally present on lower body parts, posterior of red coloration; front of head can become totally black in courting or aggressive males, upper lips then turn yellow; a single orange egg spot (rarely more) present on anal fin (Ref. 52307).
Biology:  Mainly feeds on plants (e.g. Vallisneria aethiopica) but also on algae and detritus; ovophilic, agamous, maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 52307).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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