Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Siluriformes (Catfish) >
Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes) > Leptoglanidinae
Etymology: Zaireichthys: Composed form Zaire river + Greek,ichtys = fish; the habitat of this fish (Ref. 45335); maravensis: The specific name of this species refers to its currently known distribution restricted to Malawi, a name derived from the 16th century Maravi Kingdom, although it is likely to occur also in rivers flowing into Lake Malawi from Tanzania and Mozambique (Ref. 86935).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical, preferred ?
Africa: present in western catchment rivers of Lake Malawi, and likely to occur also in rivers flowing into Lake Malawi from Tanzania and Mozambique (Ref. 86935).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 86935); 3.1 cm SL (female)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 2;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 5-7;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 10 - 13;
Vertebrae: 33 - 39. This species is distinguished from Z. kafuensis, Z. monomotapa, Z. pallidus and Z. rotundiceps in having the premaxillary tooth patch larger than 45% of mouth width; from Z. conspicuus in having a longer lateral line (1.3±0.1 in SL cf. 2.1±0.2 in SL) and colour pattern, lacking bold blotches; from Z. compactus in pigmentation pattern, with rows of elongate spots instead of the irregular blotches (Ref. 86935). Ground colour of preserved specimens yellowish; snout, interorbital, supraoccipital and opercular regions darkly marbled, infra-orbital region paler; a series of about eight dark blotches along the dorsal surface, the first x-shaped below the base of the dorsal fin and the last at the base of the caudal fin; 8-10 dark blotches mid-laterally, the last at the base of the caudal fin; a third series of smaller, less distinct spots ventro-laterally from above base of pelvics to end of caudal peduncle (Ref. 86935). Dorsal fin with a small dark spot near the end of the spine, continued posteriorly as a faint bar of pigment on the rays; caudal fin with a dark bar basally and another bar at about 60% of its length; pectoral fins with a faint dark bar level on the tip of the spine; dark patches on dorsal surface of body extending into base of adipose; pelvic and anal fins hyaline or anal with faint dark bar (Ref. 86935).
Reported to be found in fast-flowing streams and small rivers with clear water and a sandy bottom (Ref. 86935).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eccles, D.H., D. Tweddle and P.H. Skelton, 2011. Eight new species in the dwarf catfish genus Zaireichthys (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae). Smithiana Bull. (13):3-28. (Ref. 86935)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries:
More information
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