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); dentatus: Dentatus from Latin meaning toothed or having teeth alluding to the caniniform teeth on the outer margin of the dentary and premaxilla which are exposed when the mouth is closed (Ref. 123828).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi (Ref. 123828).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123828)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12; Vertebrae: 34. Diagnosis: The oblique mouth, a prognathic lower jaw, a small knob at the synthesis of the dentaries, the absence of distinct bars or stripes, the closely-spaced teeth, and lack of beak-like premaxillaries place this species in Diplotaxodon (Ref. 123828). Diplotaxodon dentatus has a smaller body depth, 26.4-28.4% of standard length, than D. altus (35.1-37.8%), D. greenwoodi (34.2-36.5%), D. macrops (33.9-37.6%), D. apogon (32.4-37.3%), D. aeneus (34.3-37.1%) and D. ecclesi (35.5%); there are more gill rakers on the first ceratobranchial in D. dentatus than in D. longimaxilla, 23-27 vs. 16-21; it has fewer teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw, 17-25, that are exposed when the mouth is closed and more widely spaced than those of D. limnothrissa, 36-46, which are close together and embedded; it has a shorter snout length, 26.6-29.2% of head length, than D. argenteus, 31.7-34.2%, a longer post-orbital head length, 39.0-41.7% of head length vs. 37.7-38.8%, a narrower cheek depth, 10.6-15.2% of head length vs. 15.3-17.0%, generally more gill-rakers on the first ceratobranchial, 23-27 vs. 20-23, and a greater distance between the anterior origin of the dorsal fin to the posterior insertion of the anal fin, 50.3-53.1% of standard length vs. 49.6-51.2% (Ref. 123828).
Based on the exposed teeth in the oral jaws and the unicuspid teeth of the pharyngeal jaws, it is suggested that Diplotaxodon dentatus is a piscivore (Ref. 123828).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Stauffer, J.R. Jr. and A.F. Konings, 2021. A new species of Diplotaxodon (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi. Zootaxa 4903(2):275-284. (Ref. 123828)
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): 3.9 ±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).
