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); rubidorsalis: The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin adjective rubi, meaning red coloured, the Latin noun dorsum, meaning the dorsal surface or back, and the Latin suffix -alis, which means pertaining to; this epithet describes the brilliant red dorsal fin of the males (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 : 9.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 128773)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Diagnosis: Labeotropheus rubidorsalis differs from all other Labeotropheus species due to the nuptial colour pattern of the males and by the shape of the anal fin; the males have a vivid, almost metallic, blue head, body, and caudal peduncle, and an equally brilliant red dorsal fin; all other species of Labeotropheus have an angular to kite-shaped anal fin, but L. rubidorsalis has a distinctly rounded anal fin, especially in the posterior portion (Ref. 128773). Labeotropheus rubidorsalis has a generally slenderer body than the most of the robust Labeotropheus, though its range overlaps that of several of these species, 31.6-36.1% of standard length vs. 37.4-40.6% in L. alticodia, 34.3-42.0% in L. artatorostris, 33.8-41.5% in L. aurantinfra, 32.0-38.6% in L. candipygia, 31.9-34.7% in L. chlorosiglos and 35.2-41.5% in L. obscurus; it does have a distinctly slenderer body than some of these species as measured by the distance between the origins of the dorsal and anal fins, 45.6-50.3% of standard length vs. 52.1-53.5% in L. alticodia, 50.2-58.1% in L. artatorostris, 51.3-54.6% in L. chlorosiglos, 52.5-55.5% in L. fuelleborni and 50.8-56.3% in L. obscurus, and the insertion of the dorsal and anal fins, 13.5-15.7% of standard length vs. 16.4-18.1% in L. alticodia, 15.4-18.3% in L. artatorostris, 15.5-16.8% in L. chlorosiglos, 16.5-17.4% in L. fuelleborni and 15.8-17.8% in L. obscurus; it has fewer rows of teeth in the upper jaw, 3-4 vs. 5-8 in L. artatorostris, 4-6 in L. aurantinfra, 4-5 in L. fuelleborni and 4-6 in L. candipygia; it also has fewer rows of teeth in the lower jaw , 3-5 vs. 6 in L. fuelleborni and 5-7 in L. chlorosiglos (Ref. 128773). Labeotropheus rubidorsalis is typically deeper-bodied than the slender-bodied Labeotropheus as indicated by both body depth, 31.6-36.1% of standard length vs. 26.6-33.2% in L. chirangali, 26.3-33.4% in L. trewavasae and 26.9-30.8% in L. simoneae, and by the distance between the origin of the dorsal fin and the attachments of the pelvic fins, 31.5-35.4% of standard length vs. 28.6-33.4% in L. chirangali, 27.1-32.7% in L. trewavasae and 27.5-32.8% in L. simoneae; it also has fewer rows of teeth in the upper jaw than the other slender species, 3-4 vs. 3-6 in L. chirangali, 4-7 in L. simoneae and 5-7 in L. trewavasae; it also has fewer rows of teeth in the lower jaw than L. trewavasae, 3-5 vs. 5-6 (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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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): 3.3 ±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).
