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Hemichromis camerounensis Bitja-Nyom, Agnèse, Pariselle, Bilong-Bilong, Gilles & Snoeks, 2021 |
| Family: | Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae | |||
| Max. size: | 14.62 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | pelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: coastal basins of Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria, from Cross River to Lobe River (Ref. 123791). Also in upper Chad basin in Cameroon (Ref. 123791). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 14-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal soft rays: 8-11. Diagnosis: Live or freshly caught specimens of Hemichromis camerounensis can be distinguished from H. fasciatus by the two distinct red opercular spots on either side of the single large black opercular spot while there is no or just one red spot present in the latter species; it can be further distinguished from H. fasciatus by a combination of overlapping morphometrics: a low number of dorsal fin soft rays, 10-12 vs. 11-14; few cheek row scales, 3-5 vs. 5-7; low number of longitudinal line scales, 28-30 vs. 29-32; a shallow cheek, 20.0-31.4% of head length vs. 21.6-34.0%; short snout, 27.2-35.2% of head length vs. 27.4-36.4%; large eyes, 22.4-32.5% of head length vs. 19.7-27.2%; broad interorbital region and head, respectively 24.3-31.1% and 40.8-48.3% of head length vs. 23.0-30.1% and 39.0-46.6%; in addition, the lower pharyngeal jaw in H. camerounensis is more V-shaped with a dentigerous area more long than that of H. fasciatus which is more Y-shaped with a dentigerous area less long (Ref. 123791). Hemichromis camerounensis can be distinguished from H. elongatus by the two distinct red opercular spots on either side of the single large black opercular spot in live or freshly-caught specimens while in H. elongatus there is one red spot or a mixture of reddish and yellowish spots above the large black opercular spot; the ventral parts of the body and head of H. camerounensis are variable in colour and vary from dark to white sometimes reddish, while a homogeneous red colour is present on the ventral parts of the body and head in adults of H. elongatus; it can further be distinguished from H. elongatus by a combination of overlapping morphometrics, mainly by a low number of dorsal fin soft rays, 10-12 vs. 11-13; high number of upper transverse line scales, 3-5 vs. 3-4.5; low number of pectoral to pelvic fins row scales, 4-6 vs. 4-7; a short premaxillary pedicel, 39.1-48.8% of head length vs. 38.0-51.2%; broad interorbital region, 24.3-31.1% of head length vs. 21.8-30.4%; short head, 33.1-38.7% of standard length vs. 34.2-40.3%; short predorsal, prepectoral and prepelvic distances, respectively 33.8-39.0%, 34.3-42.7% and 37.6-43.7% of standard length vs. 34.3-41.3%, 35.1-42.3% and 38.2-48.1%; long dorsal and anal fin bases, respectively 50.8-57.3% and 13.7-18.4% of standard length vs. 48.1-56.8% and 12.8-18.2%; the posterior margin of this pharyngeal bone in H. camerounensis is noticeably less concave and wider than that of H. elongatus and it comprises on average fewer teeth, 16-24 vs. 19-26 (Ref. 123791). Description: General body shape deep and moderately elongated; dorsal and anal fins long and set relatively far back, exceeding level of caudal fin origin; dorsal fin straight or slightly convex, with a low number of soft rays, soft rays 3 to 6 longest; length of pectoral and pelvic fin rays decreasing from first to last branched rays; caudal fin emarginate or truncate, caudal peduncle almost as long as deep; cycloid scales (Ref. 123791). Head broad, moderately long, with straight or concave profile, premaxillary pedicel moderately long and sometimes prominent; jaws isognathous when head is straight and prognathous when head is concave and premaxillary pedicel prominent; short snout, relatively large eyes, cheek with a low number of row scales; lower pharyngeal jaw slightly broader than long and V-shaped, somewhat convex, with 16 to 24 marginal teeth; upper jaw with two rows of unicuspid teeth (Ref. 123791). Upper jaw outer teeth 41-58, lower jaw outer teeth 20-38, upper jaw inner teeth 14-22, lower pharyngeal jaw posterior teeth 16-24 (Ref. 123791). Upper lateral line scales 15-18, lower lateral line scales 10-13, longitudinal line scales 28-30, upper transverse line scales 3-4.5, lower transverse line scales 8-11, pectoral to pelvic fins range scales 4-6, caudal peduncle rows scales 15-16, cheek scales 3-5 (Ref. 123791). Colouration: Clour of living specimens: general colour pattern grey-green, with five large dark blotches on the flanks, sometimes extending into as vertical stripes; scales on flanks marked at edges by silvery, pink or red colour and at centre by yellow or golden colour; this results sometimes in a pattern on the flanks of alternating horizontal silver/red and yellowish/golden lines; colour of dorsum homogenous and varying between grey-greenish, grey-silver and dark grey; belly dark grey, white, pink or red; operculum with two globular, threadlike or rectangular red spots flanking opposite sides of large black opercular spot; dark lachrymal stripe extending over iris and above the eye; fins grey, yellowish or whitish; dorsal and anal fins sometimes with pinkish margin (Ref. 123791). Colour of preserved specimens: general body colour yellowish-brown with five large dark blotches or stripes on the flanks; longitudinal pattern or brown and yellow alternating lines visible in some specimens; two yellow opercular spots at opposite sides of the single large black opercular spot in some specimens (Ref. 123791). |
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| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
| Country info: |
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