Cyprichromis Coloratus

📖 Overview

Occurs exclusively over rocky substratum, 1-5 m above the bottom from 5 m to at least 35 m depth; most abundant at ca. 15 m depth; females and sub-adult males forms mixed-species schools; adult males each maintain territories above adjacent large rocks or boulders; feed almost exclusively on cyploploid copepodids; mouthbrooding females .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Recognized as a species of the genus Cyprichromis by the elongate abdominal cavity, extending posteriorly beyond the anal fin origin. Cyprichromis coloratus n. sp. can be distinguished from C. microlepidotus by fewer scales in the longitudinal line (41-44 v. 59-70 in C. microlepidotus) and in the upper lateral line (31-36 v. 47-59), from C. leptosoma by more spines in the dorsal fin (14-15 v. 11–13 in C. leptosoma) and more scales in the longitudinal line (41-44 v. 38-40), from C. pavo by fewer dorsal-fin spines and soft rays (total number of spines and soft rays 29-31, usually 30, v. 30-32, usually 31, in C. pavo), and from C. zonatus usually by a shallower body [body depth 24.0–28.5 (26.4 +/- 1.1) % LS v. 24.5–30.5 (28.4 +/- 1.3) % in C. zonatus] and smaller eye (eye length (LE) 25.2–30.9 (27.2 +/- 1.1) % of head length (LH) v. 27.9–33.3 (30.2 +/- 1.2) %). Males of the new species are also distinguished from C. microlepidotus, C. pavo and C. zonatus by the following colouration features: absence of distinct small spots on body (v. presence of pearl grey and yellowish small spots along scale rows on body in C. microlepidotus and C. pavo), dichromatism (particularly of the caudal fin) in males of the same population (v. no dichromatism in C. zonatus), and absence of vertical bands on flanks (v. three or four distinct vertical bands beneath dorsal fin base in live males of C. zonatus) .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Cyprichromis Coloratus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic; depth range 5 - 60 m , usually 15 - 35 m . Tropical endemic to Lake Tanganyika, occurs in the southern part of the lake, off Wonzye Point, Kasenga and Nkumbula Island in Zambia (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Cyprichromis Coloratus.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .

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