Haplochromis Pelagicus

📖 Overview

Abundant in upper water layers of deepwater regions of Lake Edward, occasionally found in upper water layers of sublittoral areas of lakes Edward and George and Kazinga Channel . It feeds on copepods and chaoborid larvae, pupae and emerging adults .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. Diagnosis: Haplochromis pelagicus is a species with a very shallow body, body depth 25.4-30.7% of standard length; long and very shallow caudal peduncle, caudal peduncle length 17.2-20.1% of standard length, caudal peduncle depth 49.4-66.3% of caudal peduncle length; short upper jaw compared to lower jaw, upper jaw length 63.4-71.5% of lower jaw length; mostly inverted-triangular shaped head in anterior view with a very narrow lower jaw, lower jaw width 31.1-36.5% of lower jaw length; posterior 1/4-1/5 of premaxillary dentigerous arm often edentulous; many gill rakers, 14-18 . It differs from H. aureus by a shallower body, body depth 25.4-30.7% of standard length vs. 30.7-33.5%; shorter upper jaw, upper jaw length 26.5-29.0% of head length vs. 29.3-35.6%; more gill rakers, 14-18 vs. 12-14; dominant males with iridescent silver vs. yellow snout and cheeks, and hyaline vs. dusky and crimson anal fin . It is very similar to H. pappenheimi and differs from it by anal fin hyaline to rarely faint dusky vs. dark-dusky; major cusps of outer oral teeth bluntly vs. acutely pointed, and with a small to large flange vs. with no to a small flange, rarely a large flange; anterior outer oral teeth including rarely some vs. often several tricuspid teeth; dominant males differ further from those of H. pappenheimi by anal and caudal fins hyaline vs. crimson; belly and chest light-coloured vs. belly dark-coloured and chest speckled-black; cheek light-coloured with a very well-defined lacrimal stripe vs. dark-coloured with a well-defined lacrimal stripe; pelvic fin slightly shorter, pelvic fin length of males 23.3-27.0% of standard length vs. 25.2-33.5% .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Haplochromis Pelagicus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Haplochromis Pelagicus is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Haplochromis Pelagicus is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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