Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Labeotropheus: Latin, labeo = one who has large lips + Greek, tropaion = defeat, a memorial of a fighting war, trophy; because of their specialized teeth were such an obvious feeding adaptation (Ref. 45335); chirangali: Chirangali is the Chichewa word for beacon, referring to the navigational beacon present on Mphanga Rocks (Ref. 128773).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Malawi,
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 128773)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. Diagnosis: Labeotropheus chirangali differs from the robust Labeotropheus, except L. chlorosiglos and L. candipygia, due to its slender body, 26.6-33.2% of standard length vs. 35.2-41.6% in L. fuelleborni, 33.8-41.5% in L. aurantinfra, 35.2-41.5% in L. obscurus, 37.4-40.6% in L. alticodia and 34.3-42.0% in L. artatorostris; it has a slenderer body than L. chlorosiglos and L. candipygia, although its range of body depth partially overlaps with those of these species, 31.9-34.7% in L. chlorosiglos and 31.9-38.6% in L. candipygia (Ref. 128773). There are additional morphometric differences between L. chirangali and both L. chlorosiglos and L. candipygia, although some of the ranges overlap; it differs from both L. chlorosiglos and L. candipygia by shorter distances between the tip of the snout and the origin of the dorsal fin, 28.4-32.7% of standard length vs. 31.2-34.4% in L. chlorosiglos and 32.2-36.8% in L. candipygia, between the origin of the dorsal fin and the origin of the anal fin, 32.2-51.5% of standard length vs. 51.3-54.6% in L. chlorosiglos and 47.6-54.0% in L. candipygia, and between the origin of the dorsal fin and the attachment of the pelvic fins, 28.6-33.4% of standard length vs. 33.0-36.0% in L. chlorosiglos and 32.7-38.8% in L. candipygia; additionally, L. chirangali has a greater width between the opercular tabs, 15.1-17.8% of head length vs. 14.7-15.7% in L. chlorosiglos (Ref. 128773). Labeotropheus chirangali differs from the other slender-bodied Labeotropheus primarily due to the nuptial colouration of the males; male L. chirangali have a dark blue head, flank, and ventrum, and the scales in this region may have small ochreous-orange highlights; above this extensive dark blue patch, male L. chirangali have a bright sky-blue dorsum; this pigmentation extends onto the dorsal fin; the tips of the dorsal fin are yellow, as is the trailing edge of this fin; the anal fin and the pelvic fins are the same bright sky blue as the dorsal fin (Ref. 128773). Many of the morphometric and meristic values of L. chirangali overlap with those of the other slender Labeotropheus, although there are some distinctions; it differs from L. trewavasae due to a larger snout pad, 13.6-19.4% of head length vs. 10.3-14.2%, a wider lower jaw, 39.0-49.5% of head length vs. 34.7-43.9%, fewer rows of teeth in the lower jaw, 3-5 vs. 5-6, and more infraorbital neuromasts, 14-38 vs. 8-25; it differs from L. simoneae due to a greater rostral length, 39.2-47.6% of head length vs. 34.3-43.0%, a larger snout pad, 13.6-19.4% of head length vs. 9.5-15.9%, and fewer overlapping lateral line scales, 0-3 vs. 4-5; finally, L. chirangali differs from L. rubidorsalis due to a smaller distance between the tip of the snout and the origin of the dorsal fin, 28.4-32.7% of standard length vs. 31.4-35.0%, a greater distance between the insertion of the dorsal fin and the attachment of the pelvic fins, 54.1-58.8% of standard length vs. 49.5-55.1%, a smaller preorbital depth, 23.4-28.4% of head length vs. 26.6-32.9%, a larger snout pad, 13.6-19.4% of head length vs. 10.3-14.2%, and a greater number of ceratobranchial gill rakers, 7-10 vs. 5-8 (Ref. 128773).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Pauers, M.J. and T.B. Phiri, 2023. Six new species of Labeotropheus (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) from the Malawian shore of Lake Malawi, Africa. Ichthyology & Herpetology 111(2):264-292. (Ref. 128773)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 3.4 ±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).
