Red-banded Madagascar cichlid
📖 Overview
Overview information for Red-banded Madagascar cichlid is currently being compiled by our editorial team.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 8 - 10; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 31 - 32. Diagnosis: This species of Paretroplus is distinguished from all congeners except its sister taxon, P. damii, by the presence of a triangular, black pectoral-axil patch in combination with the absence of a series of prominent vertical bars on the flank; in life, unstressed individuals of these two species can easily be distinguished from all congeners by the presence of a broad, vertical brick red or pale yellow band on the anterior half of the flank . Paretroplus loisellei is distinguished from P. damii by the presence of a more or less straight gular region in lateral view, vs. rounded and convex in P. damii, such that the ventral margins of the preopercle and interopercle are essentially horizontal; in P. loisellei the oral jaws are horizontally oriented, vs. strongly oblique; the lips are enlarged and fleshy, vs. thin; and the snout is elongate and curved, creating a beaked appearance, vs. short and straight; the enlarged symphyseal teeth in the upper jaw possess distinct, sharp lateral cusps, vs. poorly developed and rounded; owing to convex premaxillary pedicels, Paretroplus loisellei exhibits a prominent indentation marking the transition from the dorsal margin of the premaxillary ascending process to the supraoccipital crest . The base colouration in P. loisellei is uniform dark brownish-gray in preservation; whereas P. damii is considerably lighter golden brown overall and frequently retains a faint, pale broad band on the anterior region of the flank; Paretroplus loisellei exhibits a distinctive bright golden breeding colouration, vs. brick red . : fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Red-banded Madagascar cichlid is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Red-banded Madagascar cichlid is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Red-banded Madagascar cichlid is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Red-banded Madagascar cichlid ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.