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Teleostei (teleosts) > Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Oreochromis: Latin, aurum = gold + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: known only from the catchment of Lake Natron in Tanzania (Ref. 32272, 118638).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 32272)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 12; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11. Diagnosis: A very small slender species with a narrow ventrally-placed mouth (Ref. 118638). Mature males have dark-edged dorsal and anal fins, iridescent blue-white spots on flanks, white lower lips, and a spotted caudal fin; male breeding dress shows geographic variation, with males of some populations having yellow throats and white bellies, while others are a fiery orange underneath (Ref. 118638). Females and non-territorial males are sandy-coloured, paler ventrally, sometimes with faint vertical bars (Ref. 118638).

It inhabits the springs and some spring-fed creeks near the southern and south-eastern shores of Lake Natron (Ref. 32272). It co-occurs with Alcolapia alcalicus and Alcolapia latilabris (Ref. 32272). Observed to nibble at stones and gravel, probably taking mainly algae for food; omnivorous, taking insects from the water surface as well (Ref. 32272). A maternal mouthbrooder: males defend spawning territories among rocks in shallow water (Ref. 32272, 118638). Potential as an aquarium fish (Ref. 118638).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

A maternal mouthbrooder: males defend spawning territories among rocks in shallow water (Ref. 32272, 118638). Females carry eggs and larvae in their mouths (Ref. 32272).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Seegers, L. and H. Tichy, 1999. The Oreochromis alcalicus flock (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from lakes Natron and Magadi, Tanzania and Kenya, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 10(2):97-146. (Ref. 32272)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Vulnerable (VU) (D2); Date assessed: 31 January 2006

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5625 [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): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.

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).

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