Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Hemichromis: Greek, hemis = half + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: ? - 7.0; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 2060), preferred ?
Africa: Cameroon to the Republic of Congo, the entire Congo River, Okavango and Zambesi system (Ref. 81260) and the Cuanza River (Ref. 11970). Also reported from west Africa (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Benin, Nigeria) (Ref. 43352, 81260), but this needs confirmation (Ref. 53405). Upper Zambezi and (some) Congo populations may represent a different species (Ref. 81260).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 10.7, range 10 - 11.5 cm
Max length : 18.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81260)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 13 - 15;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 11-12;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: 4-5 distinct blotches or ovoid bars along lateral mid-line (Ref. 44091, 81260), but bands not obvious in large males which assume a very dark to almost black coloration (Ref. 44091). Scales olive to yellow; series of thin red dots often forming horizontal lines along the mid-portion of flanks; normally 2 rows of teeth on upper jaw (Ref. 81260). Magenta spot on gill cover (Ref. 44091).
Found in shallow lakes and streams (Ref. 58302). Highly predaceous and thus used in some areas for tilapia control; feeds on fish, shrimp and aquatic insects; very aggressive and territorial (Ref. 44091); the parents guard the nest and larvae (Ref. 7248). Pair-bonding, substrate brooder (Ref. 81260). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Daget, J. and G.G. Teugels, 1991. Hemichromis. p. 187-194. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa, CLOFFA, ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 5644)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.58 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm<1; Fec=500).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100) .
