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Hypsophrys nematopus (Günther, 1867) Poor man's tropheus |
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photo by
Lehtonen, T. |
| Family: | Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Cichlasomatinae | |||
| Max. size: | 14 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7 - 8; dH range: 9 - 20 | |||
| Distribution: | Central America: Atlantic slope of Nicaragua and western Costa Rica, in the San Juan River drainage, including Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 18-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 7-8; Anal soft rays: 6-7. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: teeth properly incisor, even in young; caudal edge of mesethmoid with a unique shape; caudal edge of supraoccipital crest straight, inclined rostrad, its height 27% of postethmoid skull length; width of posterior premaxillary expansion greater than 41% of length of the same bone; arms of articular equal in length; gut S-folded ventrorostrally in adults, anal and medial loops nearly touching; with an abrupt, steep head profile (Ref. 74403). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits both lakes and rivers. Proliferates in rivers with medium to high velocities. Found between 35 and 535 m elevation (Ref. 36880). Feeds on aufwuchs which cover rocks and submersed trees and filaments of algae. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 30 July 2019 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||