Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Spathodus: Greek, spathe = sword + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Georges Marlier was a Belgian entomologist and zoologist whose doctorate was awarded by the University of Brussels. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Poll.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 2 m. Tropical; 25°C - 27°C (Ref. 2060); 3°S - 6°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, northern part of the lake.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5695); common length : 7.0 cm NG male/unsexed; (Ref. 6770)
Swims over rock bottom for long distances, alone or in pairs, instead of jumping from place to place between pebbles as S. erythrodon does. Feeds by picking microorganisms from the rock biocover (Ref. 6770).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Female is mouthbrooder and takes care of the young.
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Spathodus. p. 458-459. 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. 5695)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [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): 3.3 ±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).