| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
13.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Bermin, Cameroon (Ref. 52307, 81260). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal jaw slender and gracile, with a reduced dentigerous plate; gill filaments of first arch long (ca. 20% HL); 10-12 gill rakers on first arch; anterior rakers markedly reduced in size (Ref. 81260).
Description: head length 38.1-44.6% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with unicuspid, curved anterior teeth and straight tricuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel relatively long, nearly as long as dentigerous plate; 2-4 rows of teeth in upper jaw, outer row teeth bicuspid (Ref. 81260). Head very massive; relatively deep-bodied; frontal profile steep; both sexes may develop a small hump on head (Ref. 52307).
Coloration: in life: silvery grey-brown, darker dorsally (Ref. 81260) when not spawning (Ref. 52307). Snout and dorsum of head dark brownish black; lower lip, chin and belly pale creamy-brown; opercle reddish bronze, and reddish tinge to fleshy pectoral base; well marked opercular spot (Ref. 81260). Dorsal fin uniform dusky, grey-brown; caudal fin blackish brown with dusky green posterior margin; anal fin dusky grey-black (Ref. 52307, 81260). Pelvics and pectoral fins transparent (Ref. 81260). Exhibits a bright yellow to bronze coloration, with lower lip silvery-white, when breeding or dominant (Ref. 52307). |
| Biology: |
Prefers a herbivorous diet, especially phytoplankton which might be taken from the water column and not from the substrate; primarily found near the lake shore, forming stable pairs and preferring to spawn on sunken wood or on stones (Ref. 52307). Substrate brooder (Ref. 81260). Both parents guard their brood (Ref. 52307). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
|
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.