Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Alticorpus: Latin, altus = nutritious + Latin, corpus = body (Ref. 45335); macrocleithrum: From the Greek "makros" = large, big, tall and "cleithrum" = the bony element in the shoulder girdle. In this species, the cleithrum is exceptionally large (Ref. 55908).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 30 - 150 m (Ref. 55908), usually 60 - 150 m (Ref. 55908). Tropical; 13°S - 15°S
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi. Found at Cape Maclear and Monkey Bay.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5594)
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Diagnosis: cleithrum elongated, forming a clear prominence protruding on the chest, already visible in specimens of 53.0mm SL; sensory pores on the head greatly enlarged (Ref. 55908).
Typical deep-water species, with an even distribution below 60m (Ref. 55908). Found in areas where the bottom consist of diatomaceous ooze (Ref. 5595) but also on sandy habitats (Ref. 55908). Food may consist of invertebrates (Ref. 5595) and perhaps small fishes (Ref. 55463).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maréchal, C., 1991. Alticorpus. p. 2-3. 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. 5594)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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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=0.01445 (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): 3.5 ±0.37 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).