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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecologie
; zoet water benthopelagisch. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi where it is widely distributed.
Grootte / Gewicht / Leeftijd
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.3 cm TL mannelijk / geslacht onbekend; (Ref. 4996)
Korte beschrijving
Determinatiesleutels | Morfologie | Morfometrie
Dorsale stekels (totaal) : 16 - 17; Dorsale zachte stralen (totaal) : 10 - 11; Anale stekels: 3; Anale zachte stralen: 9 - 10; Wervels: 31. Resembles P. fenestratus in form and in ecology, but differs from it in having a larger eye and consequently narrower preorbital, in the more numerous teeth in the upper jaw and on the lower pharyngeal, the higher number of gill rakers, the anterior of which, although short, are acute and well defined and in the higher modal number of dorsal spines. Differs from P. virgatus in the absence of enlarged pharyngeal teeth.
Inhabits shallow, rocky sediment-free habitat. Feeds on 'aufwuchs' attached to rocks, but also takes small invertebrates, including zooplankton when this is abundant (Ref. 267).
Levenscyclus en paargedrag
Maturiteit | Voortplanting | Paaien | Eieren | Fecunditeit | Larven
Parents practice co-operative care of young by grouping together and setting up protective stations close to one another; releasing their young and embarking upon parental care. Every protective mantle is very close to the next in such a way that young can move from one parent to the next.
Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4996)
Status op de Rode Lijst van het IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Gevaar voor de mens
Harmless
Gebruik door de mens
Visserij: commercieel; Aquarium: Commercieel
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Fylogenetische diversiteitsindex (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00674 - 0.03099), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trofisch niveau (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Weerstandsvermogen (Ref.
120179): Hoog, minimale populatieverdubbelingstijd minder dan 15 maanden (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).