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💧 Freshwater Near Threatened 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Julidochromis Marksmithi

Julidochromis marksmithi Burgess, 2014
Max Length
6.3 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Julidochromis Marksmithi (Julidochromis marksmithi) is a ray-finned fish of the family Cichlidae. It inhabits freshwater waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 6.3 cm. With a trophic level of 3.4, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Scientific Name
Julidochromis marksmithi
Authority
Burgess, 2014
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
NT
Max Length
6.3 cm
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 21 - 23; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 7; Anal spines: 6 - 8; Anal soft rays: 5 - 7. Diagnosis: Julidochromis marksmithi is a typical Julidochromis that differs mainly in its colouration and pattern from the other species of the genus: it is bright yellow and decorated by two major horizontal dark brown to blackish bands on the body with a third stripe extending from the nape only about halfway along the back at the dorsal fin base; an additional dark somewhat irregular stripe (cheek stripe) runs from the corner of the mouth across the cheek as far as the pectoral fin base , but the posterior segments beyond the preopercle are often faded or lacking; this stripe is lacking in the ornatus-transcriptus-dickfeldi group; a broad dark band, bordered by a narrow blackish edge and a submarginal light blue stripe, extends along the upper part of the dorsal fin to its angle where it may spread throughout the soft portion of the fin . It differs from the larger J. regani and J. marlieri by lacking the lower body band of those species, and all their forms; Julidochromis ornatus has a blackish band, often quite broad, running along the entire base of the dorsal fin with the remainder of the fin yellow, no black band is present along the upper part of the fin; Julidochromis dickfeldi also lacks the cheek stripe as well as the band in the dorsal fin; it is white below the central body band as opposed to the yellow in J. marksmithi; Julidochromis marlieri and J. transcriptus have vertical bars, which are absent in J. marksmithi . : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Julidochromis Marksmithi is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 👄 Mouth Brooder 🛡️ Egg Guarder
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical endemic to the Tanzanian coast of Lake Tanganyika in the area around Kipili (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.4±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
6.3cm
Dorsal Spines
22
Dorsal Rays
6
Anal Spines
7
Anal Rays
6

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Near Threatened
Assessment Date
2025

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Burgess, 2014

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