Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Diplotaxodon: Greek, diploos = twice + Greek, taxis = disposition + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); altus: The specific name altus means 'deep' as well as 'high' in Latin and is used here in reference to both the deep body of fish and its deep water habitat (Ref. 127500).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 40 - 130 m (Ref. 127500), usually 40 - 70 m (Ref. 127500). Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi (Ref. 127500).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 127500)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Diagnosis: The greater body depth, 35.1-37.8% of standard length, of Diplotaxodon altus separates it from D. limnothrissa, 22.5-27.8% of standard length, D. argenteus, 27.3-27.6% of standard length, D. macrops, 32.0-34.2% of standard length, D. ecclesi, 31.0% of standard length, and D. longimaxilla, 28.9-32.5% of standard length (Ref. 127500). The presence of 21-26 gill rakers on the outer arch of the ceratobranchial distinguishes it from D. aeneus and D. greenwoodi which both have fewer than 20 gill rakers; the smaller cheek depth, 18.2-20.0% of head length, distinguishes it from D. apogon, 23.2-28.0% of head length (Ref. 127500).
This species is found in offshore, deep-water environments; found at depths between 40-70 m and, although rare, in trawls between 110-130 m (Ref. 127500).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Stauffer, J.R. Jr., T.B. Phiri and A.F. Konings, 2018. Description of two deep-water fishes of the genus Diplotaxodon (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi, Africa. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 131:90-100. (Ref. 127500)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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Internet sources
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): 4.0 ±0.7 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).
