Haplochromis Glaucus

📖 Overview

Haplochromis Glaucus (Haplochromis glaucus), first described by Vranken, Van Steenberge, Heylen, Decru & Snoeks, 2022 is a medium-sized fish in the family Cichlidae (order Cichliformes). Adults typically reach 15.80 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: Species with a piscivorous morphology; snout acute in lateral view; outer oral teeth few and large, 25-47; males grey with light blue flank and a dusky to black head; female colour pattern similar to males . Amongst piscivorous species from the Lake Edward system, H. glaucus differs from H. latifrons and H. mentatus by a shorter caudal peduncle, caudal peduncle length 13.4-16.1% of standard length vs. 15.7-18.0%; further from H. latifrons by a longer anal fin base, 17.3-20.3% of standard length vs. 14.7-17.3%; and absence vs. presence of a well-defined mid-lateral band; further from H. mentatus by a broader lower pharyngeal bone, lower pharyngeal width 93.3-95.1% of lower pharyngeal length vs. 83.6-85.7%; a slightly longer pre-pectoral distance, 36.4-39.4% of standard length vs. 33.1-38.2%; and dominant males uniformly light blue vs. yellow-green with a red anterior part of flank . It differs from H. rex and H. simba by a broader interorbital rea, interorbital width 50.957.1% of head width vs. 44.9-52.7%; further from H. rex by a gentler sloping snout, 30-40° vs. 40-50°; acute vs. rounded oral jaws in dorsal view; and dominant males light blue with a blackish operculum and a dusky snout vs. cream-coloured with an orange operculum and a light blue snout; further from H. simba by a broader lower pharyngeal bone, lower pharyngeal width 93.3-95.1% of lower pharyngeal length vs. 83.8-87.9%; absent or weakly developed vs. strongly developed mental prominence; and dominant males uniformly light-blue vs. yellow with an orange anterior part of flank . It differs from H. aquila by the combination of a smaller eye, eye diameter 23.2-28.7% of head length vs. 30.0-31.5%; a narrower head, head width 38.9-40.9% of head length vs. 40.1-43.7%; and dominant males light blue with crimson anal and caudal fins vs. light grey with bright red anal and caudal fins . It differs from H. kimondo, H. curvidens, and H. quasimodo by the combination of a narrower head, head width 38.9-40.9% of head length vs. 42.0-48.1%; large vs. small outer oral teeth; and a smaller number of outer upper jaw teeth, 25-47 vs. 43-71; further from H. kimondo and H. quasimodo by dominant males light blue vs. grey dorsally and yellow or blue-black ventrally . It differs from H. falcatus by the combination of a shorter predorsal distance, 35.4-37.0% of standard length vs. 36.9-41.1%; a steeper lower jaw side, 35-45° vs. 15-25°; weakly recurved vs. strongly recurved outer oral teeth; and dominant males uniformly light blue vs. olive-green with an orange-red anterior part of flank . It differs from H. pardus by the combination of deeper lacrimal, lacrimal depth 18.0-22.7% of head length vs. 16.0-18.3%; a broader interorbital area, interorbital width 50.9-57.1% of head width vs. 39.3-48.4%; and dominant males light blue vs. speckled to uniformly black . It further differs from H. squamipinnis by the combination of a gentler gape inclination, 20-30° vs. 30-45°; absence vs. presence of minute scales on proximal parts of dorsal and anal fins; and dominant males light blue vs. slate blue .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Haplochromis Glaucus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Haplochromis Glaucus.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute