Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Otopharynx: Greek, ous = hear + Greek, pharyngx = pharynx (Ref. 45335); styrax: From the Greek masculine noun στύραξ (styrax), a metal spike at the lower end of a spear shaft, for the resemblance of this elongate cichlid with pointed head to the shape of that classical object; a noun in apposition (Ref. 119408).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Lake Malawi in Malawi and Tanzania (Ref. 119408).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 119408)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Diagnosis: A medium-sized, laterally spotted haplochromine distinguishable from all previously described Otopharynx species by its more elongate body, its depth 24.3-28.6% of standard length; the next-most-elongate species are Otopharynx decorus, depth 29.4-33.3% of standard length, and O. lithobates, depth 29.5-34.4% of standard length; all others have a body depth larger than 31% (Ref. 119408). Otopharynx styrax is further separated from O. decorus by its longer caudal peduncle, length/depth 2.0-2.3 vs. 1.5-1.6 in O. decorus, and its narrower lower pharyngeal bone, the lateral edges of the horns diverging at about 70° vs. 79-87° in O. decorus; it is further distinguished from O. lithobates by the absence of dark spots on the dorsum below the dorsal-fin base vs. 4-6 distinct dorsal midline spots in O. lithobates, and longer caudal peduncle, length/depth 2.0-2.3 vs. 1.3-1.7 in O. lithobates (Ref. 119408).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Oliver, M.K., 2018. Six new species of the Cichlid genus Otopharynx from Lake Malaŵi (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History 59(2):159-197. (Ref. 119408)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries:
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [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).