Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Dimidiochromis: Greek, di = two + Latin, midio, dimidiatus = divided into halves, 1623 + Greek, chromis = afish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Ahl.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 13614); 9°S - 17°S
Africa: widely distributed in Lake Malawi. Also found in Lake Malombe (Ref. 5595).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5627); max. published weight: 515.00 g (Ref. 40637)
Usually encountered near rocks (Ref. 267, 55954), but also often forms schools offshore (Ref. 267). A common predator in surface water near the shore (Ref. 267). Feeds on small fishes; the small Utaka and lake sardine, Engraulicypris sardella, are among the favorite items (Ref. 5595). Hunts in pairs or in large groups (Ref. 3817).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Guards the young for about 4 days.
Maréchal, C., 1991. Dimidiochromis. p. 76-78. 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. 5627)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [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): 4.2 ±0.73 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 vulnerability (20 of 100).