| Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| 45 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,500.0 g; max. reported age: 7 years |
|
benthopelagic; depth range 3 - 8 m, |
| Africa: from the middle Congo River basin (Kasai drainage and between the Lomami and Kisangani) up to the upper Lualaba and the Bangweulu area (Ref. 55074). Also in Lake Malawi, Zambesi, coastal areas from Zambesi Delta to Natal, Okavango and Cunene (Ref. 5163) as well as the Limpopo, Malagarasi (Ref. 55074) and Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 55074, 74387). Also present in the Cuanza and Catumbela rivers in Angola (Ref. 11970). Introduced elsewhere usually for weed control and aquaculture. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 29-29. Head and body mid to dark olive-green dorsally, paling over the flanks. Body usually with vertical bars only and scales with a dark basal crescent. Dorsal fin olive-green with a thin red margin and white to grey dark oblique spots on the soft rays; caudal fin spotted on dorsal half and red or yellow on ventral half (Ref. 4967, 34290). |
| Prefer quiet, well-vegetated water along river littorals or backwaters, floodplains and swamps. Tolerant of a wide range of temperature (8-41°C) (Ref. 3) and salinity to 19 ppt (Ref. 7248). Form schools; is mainly diurnal. Juveniles feed on plankton. Adults feed mainly on higher plants and also algae, insects and crustaceans. Make excellent eating (Ref. 5214). |
|
Not Evaluated
(Ref. 96402)
|
| potential pest |
|
Introduced in Lake Victoria (Ref. 52331). Also introduced elsewhere in the country and now present in many water systems and dams all over the country (Ref. 52331), including Pangani drainage (Ref. 52331), Lake Chala (Ref. 52331), Athi-Galana-Sabaki drainage (Ref. 30558, 52331) and Tana River system (Ref. 52331). Also Ref. 1739. |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
Page created by Jen, 05.08.02,
php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,
last modified by
dsantos, 20/08/10
