Coptodon Konkourensis

📖 Overview

The very slender body in combination with a rounded head shape and slightly retrognathous jaws suggests that it is a benthic-rheophilic species, modified for life in rapids .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Diagnosis: This species differs from all other tilapia except Coptodon fusiforme in a shallower body 30.0-31.5% of standard length vs. 32.9-52.5% and from Coptodon fusiforme in having 8 instead of 9-12 lower lateral line scales . It differs from all tilapia except Coptodon rheophila by additional morphological and meristic characters: stout teeth in oral jaw vs. spatulate teeth in Pelmatolapia mariae and P. cabrae; median pharyngeal teeth of lower pharyngeal jaw never broadened with crest-like cusps as in Heterotilapia cessiana and H. buttikoferi; posterior pharyngeal teeth of lower pharyngeal jaw never clearly bicuspid as in Tilapia busumana, T. pra, T. brevimanus, T. sparrmanii, T. baloni, T. ruweti and T. guinasana; vertical bars broader not than lighter interspaces; possessing slender to spatulate teeth in oral jaws as in Coelotilapia joka; no densely scaled caudal fin . Compared to Coptodon congica, C. tholloni and Congolapia bilineata, it further differs from all Coptodon, excluding C. rheophila, by a combination of the meristic characters: number of dorsal-fin spines, 16 vs. 13-17, and rays, 11 vs. 10-13; number of scales on the upper, 21 vs. 17-23, and lower lateral line, 8 vs. 7-14; and number of gill rakers, 7-9 vs. 7-12, on first ceratobranchial, excluding gill rakers on cartilaginous plague; it differs from C. rheophila by a smaller eye diameter, 7.5-7.6% of standard length vs. 8.0-10.7%, a shorter predorsal distance, 31.1-33.6% of standard length vs. 34.2-38.2%, a longer length of the base of dorsal fin, 61.4-62.3% of standard length vs. 56.9-60.9%, and a shorter pectoral fin length, 22.2-24.0% of standard length vs. 25.1-28.3% . It differs from the tilapia related species Chilochromis duponti in no densely scaled caudal fin or comb-like, spatulate teeth; from Gobiocichla in having two unconnected lateral lines vs. one continuous lateral line, and from Steatocranus in not developing a hump on forehead, and in fewer dorsal spines, 16 vs. 19-22 . The new species shares all typical Coptodon characters, which are: lower pharyngeal jaw as long as broad with anterior keel shorter than or just as long as toothed area of jaw; posterior pharyngeal teeth more or less clearly tricuspid, but sometimes quadricuspid or pentacuspid, median pharyngeal teeth never broadened with crest-like cusps; first outer gill arch bearing 10-17 rakers; two unconnected lateral lines; only cycloid scales present; 22-30 scales in the longitudinal scale row; upper and lower outer teeth rows bicuspid in both jaws, inner rows with smaller tricuspid teeth in both jaws; isognathous or retrognathous jaws; stout teeth; caudal fin not densely scaled; 13-17 dorsal spines; vertical bars, never oblique and mostly branched; pointed pelvic fin; no hump on forehead; no visor like hanging pad in pharynx; only one supraneural associated with first neural spine . : elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Coptodon Konkourensis is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Coptodon Konkourensis.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute