Haplochromis Labiatus

📖 Overview

Haplochromis Labiatus (Haplochromis labiatus), first described by Trewavas, 1933 is a small fish in the family Cichlidae (order Cichliformes). Adults typically reach 10.90 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. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Near Threatened.The species is kept in the aquarium hobby. Care requirements and behaviour align broadly with other Cichlidae kept in the hobby.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10; Vertebrae: 29 - 31. Diagnosis: Haplochromis labiatus differs from all known species of Haplochromis from the Lake Edward system by a combination of a blunt snout, retro- to isognathous jaws, deep lower jaw with blunt teeth, and lobed lips . It can be confused with H. lobatus as both have lobed lips, a small gape, a curved upper jaw with a relatively long premexillary pedicel, 78.7-111.4% of upper jaw length, stout and unicuspid outer teeth that strongly decrease in size, and a lower jaw set anteriorly with procumbently implanted outer teeth on the anterior margin of the lower jaw, 40-60° to vertical; it differs from this species by a straight to convex vs. straight to concave head, and a blunt and more broad snout vs. elongated and slender snout; it differs further in its trophic morphology: lower jaw slightly shorter, 27.7-34.3% of head length vs. 31.2-40.7%, and more broa, 71.4-92.4% of lower jaw length vs. 48.5-70.5%, jaws iso- to retrognathous vs. iso- to strongly prognathous, and anteriormost outer teeth in lower jaw more closely set, 0-1 vs. 1-2 outer tooth widths between adjacent teeth, and with shorter major cusps . Haplochromis labiatus resembles H. paucidens from Lake Kivu by a blunt head, lobed lips, and insectivorous diet; it differs by a shallower lacrimal and a larger eye, lacrimal depth 36.3-50.9% of eye diameter vs. 51.7-62.4%, and a slightly broader head, 46.1-51.0% of head length vs. 43.9-47.1%; it further differs by mainly unicuspid vs. bicuspid outer teeth with stouter major cusps and mainly unicuspid vs. tricuspid inner teeth; no notable difference in dominant male colouration has been observed but a piebald colouration is seemingly absent in H. labiatus, while it is frequently observed in H. paucidens . Haplochromis labiatus resembles superficially H. chilotes from Lake Victoria by lobed lips but differs by a blunt vs. acute snout and a larger eye, eye diameter 31.0-36.9% of head length vs. 21.8-28.6% .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Haplochromis Labiatus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Mouthbrooding by females.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 0° - 1°S known from Lake Edward (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Haplochromis Labiatus.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute