Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Xenotilapia: Greek, xenos = strange + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.5 - 8.5; dH range: ? - 20. Tropical; 25°C - ? (Ref. 2059); 3°S - 9°S
Africa: endemic to and widespread in Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 46829).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5632)
Common, sand-dwelling cichlid which forages in large schools over the sandy substrate; maximum depth is 40 metres, but during breeding period they are found in much shallower water (Ref. 46829). Very abundant; copepods, ostracods and shrimps have been found in the stomach (Ref. 53528). Breeds in colonies (lek breeder); polygamous maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 52921).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Breeds in colonies (lek breeder); polygamous maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 52921).
Konings, A., 1998. Tanganyika cichlids in their natural habitat. Cichlid Press. 272 p. (Ref. 46829)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [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): 3.2 ±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).