| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Ptychochrominae |
| Max. size: |
24.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Madagascar. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 27-27. It is distinguished from congeners by a reduced number of precaudal vertebrae (12) and a reduced number of infraorbital elements (5), and also by the presence of a faint midlateral stripe, beginning just posterior to the dorsocaudal margin of the opercle and extending to caudal-fin origin (Ref. 57663). It is a comparatively shallow bodied and laterally compressed Ptychochromis (Ref. 57663). In life, base body coloration is silvery to silvery-golden, particularly below lateral midline; cheek and opercular series silvery; body golden with blackish speckles and blotches above midline, including nape, top of head, and infraorbital series; unpaired fins reddish, particularly distally, or dark gray; pectoral fins pale and reddish; pelvic fins pale reddish and may exhibit some black pigmentation along caudal margin (Ref. 57663). In preservative, ground coloration is pale yellowish-olive, with faint dark stripe present along lateral midline, more pronounced posteriorly; fins hyaline to pale yellowish-olive (Ref. 57663). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 27 June 2016 (B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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