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Teleostei (teleosts) > Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: fusiforme: The species name fusiforme is derived from the Latin fusus, spindle, and forma, shape; a noun in apposition (Ref. 85854).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

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Africa: Lake Ejagham in Cameroon (Ref. 85854).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85854)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: Coptodon fusiforme is distinguished from all Tilapia and Coptodon species by the combination of a slender fusiform body, an acute mouth, a pitch black breeding colouration and the 'tilapia spot' being extended to a longitudinal stripe in juveniles (Ref. 85854). It further differs from other Tilapia senso lato except Coelotilapia joka, Congolapia bilineata and all members of Coptodon in tricuspid pharyngeal teeth in the posterior two rows of lower pharyngeal jaw; it differs from Coelotilapia joka in more gill rakers on first ceratobranchial, 10-11 vs. 6-8; and from Congolapia bilineata in a caudal fin not densely scaled (Ref. 85854).

Deepwater specimens primarily feed on planktonic organisms in the open water column; inshore specimens pick on small particles from substrate and feed on allochtonous matter from water surface (Ref. 85854). The 'little-black' form breeds in all depth zones; the 'large-black' form breeds preferentially in log-holes of dead wood in the shallow region above 1 m (Ref. 85854).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Dunz, A.R. and U.K. Schliewen, 2013. Molecular phylogeny and revised classification of the haplotilapiine cichlid fishes formerly referred to as "Tilapia". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 68(1):64-80. (Ref. 93285)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)

Critically Endangered (CR) (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)); Date assessed: 09 March 2023

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01862 (0.00830 - 0.04177), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 2.7 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).

Coptodon fusiforme (Dunz & Schliewen, 2010)