Marbled Madagascar cichlid

📖 Overview

Found in the deep, seasonally turbid, and moderate to fast-flowing rivers in the immediate vicinity of Vevembe . These habitats are characterized by a relatively sandy substrate, with regions of small to large rocks and boulders, where there are areas of relatively still water and deep pools, in addition to swift flowing water . Specimens were captured with hook and line using Odonata larvae .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 29 - 31. Diagnosis: Ptychochromoides vondrozo is distinguished from congeners by the lack of a prominent adipose occipital hump, even in large adults and regardless of sex . In life, Ptychochromoides vondrozo is diagnosed by a vivid golden-olive ground colouration in combination with an irregular, brownish to black, blotchy and speckled lateral pigmentation pattern . It is further distinguished from its sister taxon, Ptychochromoides betsileanus by possession of a shallower caudal peduncle, 12.9-14.8% of standard length vs. 15.8-18.1%; a noticeably convex lateral snout outline with conspicuous premaxillary pedicel prominence; and a higher modal vertebral count, 30 vs. 29 . It is distinguished from Ptychochromoides katria by a larger adult size, exceeding 200 mm standard length; a mottled and blotchy overall pigmentation pattern vs. solid golden-brown base body colouration, with two wide, black vertical bars on the flanks; a greater number of ceratobranchial gill rakers, 10-12 vs. 8-9; the absence of a hypertrophied cephalic latero-sensory canal system on the lower jaw, preopercle, and neurocranium; and the presence of cycloid scales on the chest and belly vs. cycloid scales restricted to the extreme antero-ventral margin of the chest . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Marbled Madagascar cichlid is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Marbled Madagascar cichlid.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

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