Wide-lipped Natron tilapia
📖 Overview
A maternal mouthbrooder: males defend spawning territories among rocks in shallow water . Potential as an aquarium fish .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12. Diagnosis: A very small slender species with a wide mouth with broad lips bearing numerous teeth . Mature males have dark-edged dorsal and anal fins, iridescent blue-white spots on flanks, white lips, and a spotted caudal fin edged in pink; male breeding dress shows geographic variation, with some populations having yellow bellies and throats, while others are white . Females and non-territorial males are sandy-coloured, paler ventrally, sometimes with numerous vertical bars .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Wide-lipped Natron tilapia is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Wide-lipped Natron tilapia is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
A maternal mouthbrooder: males defend spawning territories among rocks in shallow water .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical known only from the catchment of Lake Natron in Tanzania (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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