Orthochromis Katumbii

📖 Overview

A benthic-rheophilic maternal mouthbrooder with clutch sizes, in captivity, of between 25 and 30 eggs .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Diagnosis: Orthochromis katumbii is distinguished from all Malagarasi-Orthochromis species including O. sp. 'Igamba', except O. mazimeroensis and O. rubrolabialis by having more scale rows on cheek, 1-4 vs. 0; further it is distinguished from O. kasuluensis, O. mosoensis, and O. rufuguensis by having more scales in lower lateral line, 10-13 vs. 7-9, and furthermore from O. kasuluensis by having fewer dorsal-fin rays, 7-9 vs. 10; from O. mosoensis by having more scales on operculum, 2-3 vs. 0-1; from O. uvinzae by having fewer scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 4-5 vs. 6-8, by having fewer dorsal-fin spines, 16-18 vs. 19-20, and it is distinguished in position of pterygiophore supporting last dorsal-fin spine, vertebral count 15-17 vs. 18-19 . From O. mazimeroensis it is distinguished by having more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 26-28, more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13, and more total vertebrae, 30-31 vs. 26-28; it is distinguished from O. rubrolabialis by having more ceratobranchial gill rakers, 7-9 vs. 5-6, and total gill raker, 10-13 vs. 8-9; from O. stormsi by having more caudal vertebrae, 16-17 vs. 14-15, more total vertebrae, 30-31 vs. 28-29, more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 26-28, and fewer scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 4-5 vs. 6-9; from O. polyacanthus by having more series of scales on cheek, 1-4 vs. 0; from O. torrenticola by having fewer anal-fin spines, 3 vs. 4 . Meristic values of O. katumbii overlap with those of O. kalungwishiensis but is distinguished by differences in colour and melanin patterns, e.g. nostril stripe on O. katumbii not extending to interorbital stripe vs. extending in O. kalungwishiensis; operculum yellowish-grey in O. katumbii vs. reddish-brownish in O. kalungwishiensis; vertical bars crossing midlateral band more pronounced in O. kalungwishiensis . Meristic values of O. katumbii overlap with those of O. luongoensis but is distinguished by ratio length/depth of caudal peduncle, 1.6-.9 vs. 2.0-2.4; in addition O. katumbii tends to have fewer vertical bars on flank, 7-9 vs. 9-12 . Meristic values of O. katumbii overlap with those of O. machadoi but is distinguished by smaller body depth, 22.4-27.7% of standard length vs. 30.0-32.2%; it is distinguished from Schwetzochromis neodon by having more circumpeduncular scales, 16 vs. 12, and fewer dorsal-fin rays, 9-10 vs. 11-12; it differs from Haplochromis snoeksi by having more scales on lower lateral line, 10-13 vs. 9, more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13, fewer caudal vertebrae, 16 vs. 17, more anal-fin rays, 7-9 vs. 5-6, and more total gill rakers, 10-13 vs. 9, in position pterygiophore supporting last anal-fin spine, vertebral count 15-16 vs. 13, and by having hypurals 3 and 4 fused vs. clearly separated or fused with distinctly visible seam; it differs from Haplochromis bakongo and H. moeruensis by having more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 26-28, more caudal vertebrae, 16-17 vs. 12-15, and more total vertebrae, 30-31 vs. 26-29; additionally, O. katumbii differs from H. bakongo by having more dorsal fin spines, 16-18 vs. 14-15, by having hypurals 1 and 2 and hypurals 3 and 4 fused vs. clearly separated or fused with distinctly visible seam, and by postion of pterygiophore supporting last dorsal-fin spine, vertebral count 15-17 vs. 13-14; and from H. moeruensis by having more scales on upper lateral line, 21-24 vs. 19-20; it differs from Haplochromis vanheusdeni by having more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 26-29 . It is distinguished from O. kimpala by having more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 27-29, fewer scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 4-5 vs. 6-7; from O. indermauri by having more horizontal line scales, 30-31 vs. 25-29, caudal vertebrae, 16-17 vs. 14-15, total vertebrae, 30-31 vs. 28-29, and by having hypurals 1 and 2 fused vs. clearly separated or fused with very distinctly visible seam; meristic values of O. katumbii overlap with those of O. mporokoso but is distinguished by having fewer vertical bars on flank, 7-9 vs. 13-15, and in head mask pattern, i.e. no cheek stripe present vs. present in O. mporokoso; meristic values of O. katumbii overlap with those of O. gecki but is distinguished by having a wider interorbital, 15.5-21.7% of head length vs. 9.6-12.9%, moreover O. katumbii lacks eggspots on anal fin vs. present in O. gecki . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Orthochromis Katumbii is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.7 - 8.0. Tropical; 19°C - 24°C

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Orthochromis Katumbii.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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