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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Etroplinae
Etymology: Paretroplus: Name from the Greek 'para' meaning 'on the side of'; in taxonomy it is commonly used in generic names to express similarity or relatedness; in the present case it would mean 'next to Etroplus' (S.Kullander, pers.comm. 3/11).; tsimoly: Tsimoly, pronounced in English as tsee-MOOL, is the name of this fish in the Sakalava dialect spoken by the people of the Akalimilotrabe region; it is to be treated as a noun in apposition (Ref. 78623).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 2 m (Ref. 40691). Tropical
Africa: Betsiboka River basin in Madagascar (Ref. 78623).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40691); 14.0 cm SL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 7 - 8; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 31 - 32. Diagnosis: Paretroplus tsimoly is distinguished from all congerners in life and preservation by the possession of markedly enlarged, lobed bluish-gray to bluish-black (in life) or dark bluish-gray (in preservation) lips in adults; in addition, P. tsimoly, is distinguished from all congeners except P. lamenabe and P. nourissati by the presence of two wide, dark brown to black midlateral bands that converge below the lateral midline, representing the second and third, or third and fourth, bars in series (Ref. 78623). Paretroplus tsimoly is further distinguished from both P. lamenabe and P. nourissati by a lateral pigmentation pattern in which the posteriormost five, or four, as the bar on the caudal peduncle is sometimes pale, bars on the flank are about equally prominent, vs. only central two bars strongly pigmented and prominent in P. lamenabe and P. nourissati (Ref. 78623).
Found in flowing water with isolated pools; rocky bottom interspersed with patches of cobble and coarse gravel (Ref. 40691). A biparental substratum-spawner that practices long-term care of its fry; breeding pairs guarding fry (Ref. 40691). Stomach contents were mainly crushed insects, most of which appear to be nymphal odonates and hemipterans, and significant amounts of fibrous plant material (Ref. 40691).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Sparks, J.S., 2008. Phylogeny of the cichlid subfamily Etroplinae and taxonomic revision of the Malagasy cichlid genus Paretroplus (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 314:1-151. (Ref. 78623)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [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): 2.8 ±0.32 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (21 of 100).