Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Benthochromis: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: M (probably Monsieur) Tricot, Director of the Great Lakes Railroad Company (Albertville), was honoured for his interest in and concern for the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika (1946–1947), during which the type was collected. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Poll.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 12468); 3°S - 9°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5606)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 35 - 37. Diagnosis: eye length equal to or longer than snout length (101-129%); usually a total of 28-29 dorsal fin rays; pelvic fins of large males <25% standard length; no distinct pearl-grey longitudinal line through the upper end of the pectoral fin base; 2 longitudinal pearl-grey lines on body (Ref. 74417).
Feeds on small crustaceans as well as plankton (Ref. 7343). Mouthbrooder (Ref. 74417).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mouthbrooder (Ref. 74417).
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Benthochromis. p. 25-26. 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. 5606)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [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 ±0.48 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming Fec<1000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
