New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Critically Endangered 🌡️ Tropical

Coptodon Fusiforme

Coptodon fusiforme Dunz & Schliewen, 2010
Max Length
8 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
2.7
Depth
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone

📖 Overview

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 . 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 .

Scientific Name
Coptodon fusiforme
Authority
Dunz & Schliewen, 2010
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
CR
Max Length
8 cm
Trophic Level
2.7
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Cichliformes
Cichliformes
Family
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Genus
Coptodon
Coptodon
Species
Coptodon Fusiforme
Coptodon fusiforme

🐟 Physical Description

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 . 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 . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Coptodon Fusiforme is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Coptodon Fusiforme is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Coptodon Fusiforme is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
2.7±0.1
Food Items

planktonic organisms in the open water column; inshore specimens pick on small particles from substr

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01862 × L3.02 (TL)
Max TL
8cm
Dorsal Spines
16
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
9

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Critically Endangered
Assessment Date
2023

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
12.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.7
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Dunz & Schliewen, 2010

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Tilapia fusiforme Dunz & Schliewen 2010 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 4 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet — be the first to log one!

View all observations for Coptodon Fusiforme ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.