| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
9.22 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 3 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, only known from Mbenji Island in Malawi (Ref. 55929). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-8. Diagnosis: dorsal profile rounded; territorial males uniformely blue; egg spots on anal fin absent or strongly reduced; melanin pattern of females and non-territorial males with vertical bars, often connected ventrally; spots on flanks present (Ref. 55929).
Description: head relatively large; dorsal profile rounded, ascending above pectoral fins and descending progressively after the pectorals; frontal profile concave, especially in males; mandibular, lachrymal and preopercular cephalic pores well developped; outer oral jaw teeth conic, with outer row teeth enlarged; lower pharyngeal jaw teeth conic, curved forwards; upper part of lateral line, with 26-31 scales, sometimes reaching caudal peduncle but not extending onto caudal fin; lower part of lateral line, with 14-18 scales, continues on caudal fin for about 3 scales (Ref. 55929).
Coloration: In life: Territorial males: body, head and fins blue; caudal fin with radiating yellow striae; lower flanks slightly yellow, especially close to the caudal fin; dorsal fin with white margin and black submarginal band; pelvic fins with white edge; anal fin blue, with fin spots absent or strongly reduced; eye reddish brown (Ref. 55929). Juveniles, females and non-territorial males: 6-8 dark vertical bars, sometimes fused or V-shaped; 2-3 spots on flanks, of which 1 is situated on the caudal peduncle; females sometimes dark brown, depending on emotional state and light conditions, and with whitish round or elongated spots on the unpaired fins (Ref. 55929). In alcohol: body dark grey-brown, males almost black; unpaired fins often with white margin; females with round white spots on soft part of dorsal and anal fins; 6-8 vertical bars, of which 5 are situated below the dorsal fin (Ref. 55929). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits intermediate zone between rocks and sand; feeds on sandy patches between rocks; males hold territories and excavate beneath rocks to construct their spawning burrow; females occur in small groups of 4 to 5 individuals (Ref. 55929). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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