Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Cynotilapia: Greek, kyon = dog + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 11°S - 13°S
Africa: circum-lacustrine distribution in Lake Malawi (Ref. 5664, 88848).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 88848)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 9. Diagnosis: This species of Microchromis is characterized by a blue pattern with dark vertical bars on body, enhanced in dominant specimens, and usually extending onto the dorsal fin; similar to Maylandia zebra and other species in that complex with which it shares the same overall colouration, namely blue ground colour with strengthening melanic pattern in dominant males, extending onto the head, but it differs from these mainly by dentition: teeth on outer rows short and conical, regularly decreasing in size from symphysis to corner, vs. bicuspid in Maylandia (Ref. 88848). It differs from Microchromis aurifrons by its less heavily black pattern and vertical stripes on head, joining on brow (Ref. 88848).
Found in all rocky habitats of Lake Malawi (Ref. 88848).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Li, S., A.F. Konings and J.R. Stauffer Jr., 2016. A revision of the Pseudotropheus elongatus species group (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with description of a new genus and seven new species. Zootaxa 4168(2):353-381. (Ref. 119465)
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 = 0.5312 [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): 3.4 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
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).
