Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes) > Leptoglaninae
Etymology: Zaireichthys: Composed form Zaire river + Greek,ichtys = fish; the habitat of this fish (Ref. 45335); maravensis: The specific name of this species refers to the fact that its currently known distribution is restricted to Malawi, a name derived from the 16th century Maravi Kingdom, although it is likely to occur also in rivers flowing into Lake Malawi from Tanzania and Mozambique (Ref. 86935).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: western catchment rivers of Lake Malawi (Ref. 86935).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 86935); 3.1 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13; Vertebrae: 33 - 39. Diagnosis: This species differs from Zaireichthys kafuensis, Z. monomotapa, Z. pallidus and Z. rotundiceps in having the premaxillary tooth patch larger than 45% of mouth width; it differs from Z. conspicuus in the longer lateral line, 1.3±0.1 in standard length vs. 2.1±0.2, and colour pattern, lacking the bold blotches found in Z. conspicuus; and from Z. compactus in pigmentation pattern, with rows of elongate spots instead of the irregular blotches (Ref. 86935).
Found in fast-flowing streams and small rivers with clear water and a sandy bottom (Ref. 86935).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Eccles, D.H., D. Tweddle and P.H. Skelton, 2011. Eight new species in the dwarf catfish genus Zaireichthys (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae). Smithiana Bull. (13):3-28. (Ref. 86935)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).