African butterfly cichlid

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African butterfly cichlid
female

female

Systematics
Order : Cichliformes
Family : Cichlids (Cichlidae)
Subfamily : Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe : Hemichromini
Genre : Anomalochromis
Type : African butterfly cichlid
Scientific name of the  genus
Anomalochromis
Greenwood , 1985
Scientific name of the  species
Anomalochromis thomasi
( Boulenger , 1915)

The African butterfly cichlid or Thomas' prachtbarsch ( Anomalochromis thomasi ) is a 6 to 8 cm long freshwater fish from the family of cichlids found in West Africa from Guinea to western Liberia and inhabits small coastal rivers and streams there.

features

The African butterfly cichlid has a typical cichlid shape, similar to the genus Hemichromis , but remains smaller than the representatives of this genus. The dorsal and anal fins are slightly pointed, the caudal fin rounded. The coloring of the species, several local variants are known, is variable, with the animals from southern Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia being the most contrasting colors. The basic color is light brown, beige to yellow. Horizontal rows of light blue highlights extend over the sides of the body.

Way of life

The African butterfly cichlid lives in small watercourses that flow through the rainforest and bushland. The waters are usually rich in oxygen and have clear, soft and acidic water. The diet consists of small animals, small fish, algae and especially snails , of which the fish can even eat larger specimens despite their relatively small mouth.

Reproduction

male

The species shows a pronounced brood care behavior, with the animals being monogamous open breeders . Spawning is preferred on surfaces such as large leaves or stones. The female defends the spawn from all possible enemies. The clutches are up to 500 eggs in size. Sex differences are difficult and can only be recognized in adult animals; females are often more contrasting in color and smaller than the males. After the larvae have hatched, they are reburied several times in hollows in the ground and cared for by both parents even after they have swam free.

Systematics

The species was by the British in 1915 ichthyologist George Albert Boulenger as Paratilapia thomasi described and named after the capture of the type specimens northwest Thomas. In 1985 the species was placed in the monotypic genus Anomalochromis by Peter Humphry Greenwood . The genus name is made up of the Greek anomalos ("abnormal, irregular") and Chromis (genus of damselfish, in which cichlids were previously classified) and refers to an anomaly of the lateral line canal on the gill cover and the lower jaw. The African butterfly cichlid is closely related to the representatives of the genus Hemichromis and with this genus forms the tribe Hemichromini. The two genera differ in the structure of the fangs . The African butterfly cichlid is not closely related to the South American butterfly cichlid ( Mikrogeophagus ramirezi ).

literature

  • Horst Linke, Wolfgang Staek: African cichlids I, cichlids from West Africa. Tetra-Verlag, Bissendorf 1997, ISBN 3-89356-151-X .
  • Anton Lamboj: Anomalochromis thomasi. In: Claus Schaefer, Torsten Schröer (Hrsg.): The large lexicon of aquaristics. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8001-7497-9 , p. 54.

Web links

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