Palaeoplex Palimpsest

📖 Overview

Found in river which is rocky with sandy to muddy patches, about 25 m wide, and with an estimated depth of approximately 1.5 m; the shoreline is fringed with dense vegetation; the species seems to prefer stretches of slow flowing water as it was neither observed nor collected in the small rapid-like stretches of the river . The molariform teeth of the lower pharyngeal jaw suggest that this species feeds at least partly on molluscs which are crushed by the pharyngeal jaws .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 27 - 30. Diagnosis: Palaeoplex palimpsest differs from Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13, and more scales on the horizontal line, 28-31 vs. 26-27; from Ps. nicholsi by having more scales on the horizontal line, 28-31 vs. 25-26, more total gill rakers, 12-17 vs. 10-11, more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13, and total vertebrae, 27-30 vs. 25-26; from Ps. pyrrhocaudalis by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13; it is distinguished from Ps. philander philander by more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 12-13; it is distinguished from Ps. philander dispersus and from several Pseudocrenilabrus populations of yet undefined taxonomic status by having more abdominal vertebrae, 14-15 vs. 13; in addition Palaeoplex palimpsest has more scales on the horizontal line, 28-31 vs. 26-27 than Ps. philander dispersus, and from the putatively new species Pseudocrenilabrus sp. "Upper Kalungwishi" it is distinguished by having more total vertebrae, 27-30 vs. 26 . From Orthochromis machadoi it is distinguished by having comparatively large scales on the chest vs. partly scaleless chest, with deeply embedded minute scales; moreover, Palaeoplex palimpsest is distinguished from O. machadoi by having a distinctively longer last dorsal fin spine, 14.7-18.6% of standard length vs. 10.1-14.6%, fewer dorsal fin spines, 14-15 vs. 16-17, and by the position of the pterygiophore supporting last dorsal-fin spine at vertebral count, 13-14 vs. 15-16 . Palaeoplex palimpsest is distinguished from Orthochromis kalungwishiensis, O. luongoensis, O. katumbii, and O. mporokoso by having fewer dorsal fin spines, 14-15 vs. 16-19, and by the position of the pterygiophore supporting the last dorsal-fin spine, vertebral count 13-14 vs. 15-18, and by having fewer total vertebrae albeit with overlap, 27-30 vs. 30-33; further, Palaeoplex palimpsest is distinguished from these northern Zambian Orthochromis by having comparatively large and well-developed scales on belly and chest vs. small to minute scales, sometimes with deeply embedded chest scales; further, adult males of Palaeoplex palimpsest feature a large orange Pseudocrenilabrus blotch at the distal end of the anal fin which is absent in the northern Zambian Orthochromis species . : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Palaeoplex Palimpsest is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

👥 Community & Contribute