Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Pseudotropheus: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, tropaion = defeat, a memorial of a fighting war, trophy; because of their specialized teeth were such an obvious feeding adaptation (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.8 - 8.3; dH range: 10 - 20. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059); 9°S - 15°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Deep Bay, Vua, Nkhata Bay; Likoma, Chisumulu, Mbenji and Maleri Islands; the southeast arm of the lake.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5684)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. No acutely sloped ethmovomerine block. Lower jaw parallel to a line from the tip of the snout to the hypural plate. Head depth 102% HL); eyes large, vertical eye diameter 25.5% (Ref. 41512).
Occurs in very shallow rocky biotopes, usually at exposed sites. Mostly found in the upper 2 m. Feeds mainly from the water column; on plankton when this is available and on insect larvae and other invertebrates that appear in the open water. Has also been observed feeding from the biocover on the rocks (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Pseudotropheus. p. 401-415. 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. 5684)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01514 (0.00700 - 0.03275), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.41 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).
