Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Rhamphochromis: Greek, rhamphos = bill, peak + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Rodney Carrington Wood (1889–1962) travelled widely, particularly in Africa, farmed at times, worked as a game warden in Nyasaland (now Malawi) which he resigned from (1931), became a schoolteacher in Natal and was also employed by the railways in [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; depth range 8 - 121 m (Ref. 55949). Tropical; 9°S - 15°S, 33°W - 36°W
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 20 - ? cm
Max length : 42.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5689)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Diagnosis: large, predatory-looking species; very large mouth and big stout teeth; eye seems very small compared to scaled area of cheek beneath; upper surface of the tip of the premaxilla often extends almost horizontally for a considerable distance when viewed in profile (Ref. 55949).
Found in inshore reef and shelf zones, and offshore in the pelagic zone (Ref. 55949). Few specimens were collected near rocky shores. Occurs in small groups (Ref. 5595). Piscivorous (Ref. 5595, 55949). Female mouthbrooder (Ref. 55949).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Rhamphochromis. p. 422-424. 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. 5689)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.62 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (32 of 100).
