Placidochromis acuticeps Hanssens, 2004

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  10.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, only known from Mvunguti in Malawi (Ref. 55898).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Diagnosis: head width 36.6-40.0 % head length; body depth 33.5-36.1 %SL; snout length 29.8-33.6 head length; lower jaw length 38.6-44.0 % head length; outer oral dentition well developed, tricuspid or bicuspid; premaxillary pedicel length 24.6-26.9 % head length; cheek depth 16.8-20.3 % head length; interorbital length 17.6-19.4 % head length; interorbital width 44.1-51.6 % head width (Ref. 55898). Description: dorsal body profile strongly convex, ventral body profile almost straight; dorsal head profile convex above eyes, concave between eyes; snout long; premaxillary pedicel prominent, giving the impression that the mouth is protruding; mouth and lower jaw large; gape inclined at about 10° to horizontal; maxilla extending to vertical at anterior margin of orbit; outer and inner oral teeth tricuspid; 2-3 series of scales on cheek; eye large; upper margin of eye touching dorsal head profile; lower pharyngeal jaw long and slender; all pharyngeal teeth small, slender, laterally compressed (Ref. 55898). Coloration: Preserved: Females and immature males: body pale silvery yellow; no clear markings on body; caudal fin with dark posterior edge (Ref. 55898). Mature males: darker, head and dorsal part of body brownish; branchiostegal membrane dark; belly with golden sheen; 6 broad vertical bars below dorsal fin; dorsal fin dark grey with white tips; broad oblique bars on soft dorsal; caudal fin dark grey; anal fin dark grey with narrow black leading edge; pectoral fin dark with black leading edge (Ref. 55898).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 22 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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