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Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Pungu: Local vernacular word from Cameroon for a fish endemic in lake Barombi Mbo; maclareni: Named in reference to P.I.R Maclaren, collector of the male holotype in 1948 (Ref. 53949).
Eponymy: Major Peter I R MacLaren (d: 1956) was an ornithologist and fisheries officer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal, usually 1 - 3 m (Ref. 52307). Tropical; 28°C - 30°C (Ref. 26185)
Africa: endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, west Cameroon (Ref. 81260).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26185)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 29. Diagnosis: mouth terminal (Ref. 26185, 53940). Distinctive fleshy lips (Ref. 26185, 52307), from which protrude rows of outwardly directed jaw teeth (Ref. 26185, 53949). Inner jaw teeth usually with 3 subequal cusps, outer row notched in juveniles but with simple replacements in adults (Ref. 26185, 53940). 7-8 lower outer teeth, 12-23 upper outer teeth; blade and dentigerous area of lower pharyngeal bone subequal, with slender teeth, firm and unicuspid posteriorly; colour variable, often silver-yellow (pale or intense) with dusky mottling concentrated on head and, to a lesser extent, midline (Ref. 26185). No Tilapia-spot on dorsal fin (Ref. 26185, 52307, 53940, 53949). Metallic blue highlights on operculum, dorsal and caudal fins (Ref. 26185).
Usually found in smaller groups (Ref. 52307) in shallow waters of lake shore (<4 m deep)(Ref. 26185). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (mayfly, caddis and chironomid midge larvae) (Ref. 26185) and the endemic sponge Corvospongilla thysi (Ref. 53950, 58527, 81260), but diatoms and terrestrial macrophytes are also sometimes eaten in quantity (Ref. 26185). Maternal (Ref. 52307) mouthbrooder (Ref. 13614, 52307, 58527).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eggs green (Ref. 26185, 53940, 58527) and ovoid, large (4x3mm) and few in number (Ref. 26185, 53940). Female is mouthbrooding (Ref. 13614), but possibly variable biparental mouthbrooder (variably one of the parents or both incubate eggs)(Ref. 58527).
Teugels, G.G., 1991. Pungu. p. 420. 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. 4998)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00674 - 0.03099), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.7 ±0.30 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).