| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Cichlinae |
| Max. size: |
17.54 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: central Congo River basin in the western Cuvette Centrale and central Cuvette Centrale, including the rivers Alima, Lefini, lower Sangha, Ruki and Maringa (Ref. 55074, 74387, 92878), in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Congo. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Diagnosis: differs from C. crassa and C. louna by having 1 complete scale row and 1 additional scale row with smaller dorso-ventrally compressed scales between upper lateral line and base of last dorsal spine (vs. 2 complete scale rows and 1 additional row of very small scales in-between); differs from C. crassa by a shallower body with only a minimal overlap, 32.2-40.5% SL vs. 40.4-48.4%; and from C. louna by a shorter last dorsal spine, 9.4-12.2% SL vs. 12.9-15.0%; all scales cycloid; 26-27 scales on horizontal line; 17-22 upper lateral line scales; 8-11 lower lateral line scales (Ref. 92878).
Description: moderately deep-bodied with a pointed snout, a slightly convex frontal profile and a truncate to slightly rounded caudal fin (Ref. 52307).
Coloration: background colour light olive-green to yellowish, chest and belly light yellow to whitish with small reddish dots; lower half of head yellowish olive, especially on cheek, and upper half of head olive-green; upper lip bluish and lower lip whitish; a horizontal iridescent blue line above anterorostral margin of preopercle; iris dark brown; apparently depending on motivational state, body with 6-7 black backward slanted, unbranched (not Y-shaped) bars and a nape band or 2 black stripes along lateral line; yellow line between these 2 lines; black thin lachrymal stripe extending from lachrymal to jaw angle; black opercular spot, extended into a sloping stripe; pectoral fin light greenish to hyaline with a yellow base, pelvic fin and anal fin greenish yellow; dorsal fin greenish, yellow edged, no clear 'tilapia spot', except for juveniles; caudal fin greenish yellow (Ref. 92878). |
| Biology: |
Found in swampy forested zones (Ref. 52307) in grass-bank as well as forest-bank habitats, during the dry as well as the wet season (Ref. 92878). Pair-bonding, open substratum spawner with both parents guarding their fry (Ref. 52307). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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