Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Ctenochromis: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); scatebra: The species is named from the Latin noun 'scatebra', meaning 'spring' or ' a gush of water from the ground', referring to the type locality which is a spring in northern Tanzania (Ref. 127080).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 28°C - 28°C (Ref. 127080)
Africa: restricted to Chemka Springs and the surrounding water bodies immediately adjacent to the Springs, in Tanzania (Ref. 127080).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 127080)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Diagnosis: Ctenochromis scatebra is recognised as a member of Ctenochromis because it possesses the diagnostic feature of a sharp break from small anterior scales to large posterior scales between the pectoral and pelvic fins, and it possesses scaleless areas on either side of the chest (Ref. 127080). In C. scatebra squamation is absent from the ventral part of the cheek, which is characteristic of the genus Ctenochromis; mature adult male of C. scatebra possess at least one clear non-ocellate egg spot on the anal fin (Ref. 127080). Ctenochromis scatebra can be distinguished from C. pectoralis based on two aspects of trophic morphology: it has front teeth in the outer row on both jaws that are primarily unicuspid, widened, shovel shaped, and often slanted, while side teeth in the outer row are unequally bicuspid and pointed; by contrast all front and side teeth in the outer row of C. pectoralis are all unequally bicuspid and pointed; Ctenochromis scatebra has a retrognathous jaw, while C. pectoralis has a marginally prognathous jaw (Ref. 127080).
This species has been observed feeding upon epilithic and epiphytic algae in Chemka Springs, as well as sifting soft sediment, and pecking on skin of swimmers; it is therefore most likely an omnivorous generalist (Ref. 127080).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Genner, M.J., L.-L. Hsu, R.A. Collins, A.M. Smith, A.D. Saxon, A.H. Shechonge, B.P. Ngatunga and G.F. Turner, 2022. Revision of the African cichlid fish genus Ctenochromis (Teleostei, Cichliformes), including a description of the new genus Shuja from Lake Tanganyika and the new species Ctenochromis scatebra from northern Tanzania. European Journal of Taxonomy 819:23-54. (Ref. 127080)
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 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
