Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Pseudotropheus: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, tropaion = defeat, a memorial of a fighting war, trophy; because of their specialized teeth were such an obvious feeding adaptation (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19. Tropical; 22°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672), preferred ?; 13°S - 14°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in Masinje Rocks, Cape Ngombo.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5663)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Males are brilliant sky blue to dark blue; the colors show a "checkerboard" pattern with alternating light and dark patches; several light-colored "egg spots" on their anal fin; females and juveniles bright yellow-orange in color (Ref. 44091).

Found in rocky habitats of shoreline areas (Ref. 58302). Omnivorous and feed on both plant and animal matter (Ref. 44091).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Maternal mouthbrooders; males establish territories and maintain a harem of females; female deposits eggs and picks them up in the mouth for incubation; male spreads out his anal fin showing the "eggs pots"; the females mistake these spots for her eggs and try to also take them inside her mouth; the male then releases his milt and the female takes them in, thus fertilizing the eggs inside her mouth (Ref. 44091).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Maréchal, C., 1991. Melanochromis. p. 258-265. 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. 5663)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Vulnerable (VU) (D2)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial

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Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01514 (0.00709 - 0.03231), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 2.0 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec<1000).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Pseudotropheus johannii Eccles, 1973