Orthochromis Kimpala

📖 Overview

Found in a river which has a rocky bottom with some patches of sand and gravel, about 5-8 meters wide and on average about 50 cm deep . The species appears to be benthic-reophilic .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 28 - 30. Diagnosis: Orthochromis kimpala can be readily distinguished from all species currently placed in Orthochromis, except O. torrenticola, by presence of eggspot-like maculae on anal fin; further, it is distinguished from Malagarasi-Orthochromis species, including O. sp. “Igamba”, by having more scale rows on cheek, 3-4 vs. 0 or 0-1 in case of O. mazimeroensis and O. rubrolabialis . Furthermore, O. kimpala differs from O. luichensis, O. malagaraziensis, O. mazimeroensis, O. mosoensis and O. rubrolabialis by having more scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 6-7 vs. 4-5; additionally, it has fewer dorsal-fin spines than O. luichensis, O. malagaraziensis, and O. rubrolabialis, 15-16 vs. 17-19 . Moreover, it differs from O. rubrolabialis by having more total gill rakers, 11-12 vs. 8-9, and by position of pterygiophore supporting last dorsal-fin spine, vertebral count 14-16 vs. 17-19; from O. mazimeroensis by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13; from O. mosoensis by having more scales in horizontal line on operculum, 3 vs. 0-1 . Orthochromis kimpala is distinguished from O. kasuluensis, O. rugufuensis and O. unvinzae by having fewer dorsal-fin spines, 15-16 vs. 17-20; from O. kasuluensis and O. rugufuensis by having more scales on the horizontal line on operculum, 3 vs. 1-2; from O. Kasuluensis and O. uvinzae by having fewer scales in upper lateral line, 20-22 vs. 23-25, and fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33; moreover, it differs from O. uvinzae by having fewer horizontal line scales, 27-29 vs. 30-32, and by position of pterygiophore supporting last dorsal-fin spine, vertebral count 14-16 vs. 18-19 . It can be distinguished from O. kalungwishiensis, O. luongoensis, O. polyacanthus, and O. torrenticola by having fewer dorsal-fin spines, 15-16 vs. 17-20; further from O. kalungwishiensis, O. luongoensis, and O. torrenticola by fewer horizontal line scales, 27-29 vs. 30-32, and fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33; from O. luongoensis and O. torrenticola by fewer caudal vertebrae, 13-16 vs. 17-18; from O. torrenticola by having fewer anal-fin spines, 3 vs. 4; moreover, it is distinguished from O. torrenticola and O. polyacanthus by position of pterygiophore supporting last anal-fin spine, vertebral count 14-15 vs. 16-17 . It is distinguished from O. stormsi by having fewer total gill rakers, 11-12 vs. 13-15 . It differs from Schwetzochromis neodon by having more scale rows on cheek, 3-4 vs. 1-2, fewer horizontal line scales, 27-29 vs. 30-31, more circumpeduncular scales, 16 vs. 12, fewer inner series of teeth, 2-3 vs. 4-6; it differs from Haplochromis snoeksi by having fewer horizontal line scales, 27-29 vs. 30-31, fewer scales on upper lateral line, 20-22 vs. 23, more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13, and fewer caudal vertebrae, 13-16 vs. 17, more anal-fin rays, 8-10 vs. 5-6, and more total gill rakers, 11-12 vs. 9; from Haplochromis bakongo by having more scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 6-7 vs. 3-5; from Haplochromis moeruensis by having more upper procurrent caudal-fin rays, 6-7 vs. 5, and more total caudal-fin rays, 26-27 vs. 28-29; from Haplochromis vanheusdeni by having more scale rows on cheek, 3-4 vs. 0-2 . It is distinguished from Orthochromis mporokoso by more scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 6-7 vs. 4-5; from O. katumbii by having fewer horizontal line scales, 27-29 vs. 30-31, and by more scales between upper lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 6-7 vs. 4-5; from O. gecki by having more series of scales on cheek, 3-4 vs. 0-2; from O. indermauri by having more series of scales on cheek, 3-4 vs. 1-2, and by fewer dorsal-fin spines, 15-16 vs. 17-18 . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Orthochromis Kimpala is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.0 - 8.7. Tropical; 21°C - 27°C

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Orthochromis Kimpala.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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