Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Petrotilapia: Latin,petra = stone + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, along the northwestern shore in Malawi (Ref. 78421, 79521, 87181).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 78421)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Diagnosis: The presence of predominantly tricuspid teeth in both the upper and lower jaws that are visible when the mouth is closed clearly places Petrotilapia microgalana in the genus Petrotilapia (Ref. 78421). Pigmentation and colour patterns of P. microgalana distinguish it from all described species of Petrotilapia; the black submarginal band in the dorsal fin distinguishes P. microgalana from P. tridentiger and P. chrysos; males of P. microgalana have a bright blue ground colour along the flanks with 5-7 faint black vertical bars and a blue head; males of P. genalutea have a dull blue ground colour laterally with orange colour along the flanks, 5-7 black vertical bars, and orange/yellow cheeks, while males of P. nigra are predominantly black with 7-10 gray/brown vertical bars (Ref. 78421).
Petrotilapia species have broad, fleshy lips with numerous slender teeth that are used to comb the algae on rocks for diatoms and loose algal strands (Ref. 6256, 87181). Adult Petrotilapia males establish territories; females, juveniles, and non-territorial males are found either singly or in schools throughout the rocky habitat (Ref. 6256). Petrotilapia microgalana males patrol territories at an average depth of 10-15 m; females are usually encountered in the upper region (Ref. 79521). It inhabits the deeper rocky environments of Lake Malawi (Ref. 87181).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Ruffing, R.A., A. Lambert and J.R. Stauffer Jr., 2006. Description of a new species of Petrotilapia (Teleostei: Cichlidae), from Lake Malawi, Africa. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 119(4):534-539. (Ref. 78421)
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 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±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).
