Parananochromis

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Parananochromis
undefined Parananochromis species from Cameroon

undefined Parananochromis species from Cameroon

Systematics
Ovalentaria
Order : Cichliformes
Family : Cichlids (Cichlidae)
Subfamily : Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe : Chromidotilapiini
Genre : Parananochromis
Scientific name
Parananochromis
Greenwood , 1987

Parananochromis is a genus from the cichlid family (Cichlidae) that occurs in eastern Lower Guinea from southeast Cameroon tonorthernGabon, in the southwest of the Central African Republic and in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

features

Parananochromis species are small cichlids and grow to be 6 to 12 cm long. With one exception ( Parananochromis axelrodi ), their bodies are elongated and slender. All species have a light, grayish basic color and, depending on the mood, show a black longitudinal band on the sides of the body. With brood care and aggression, a pattern with dark spots is often visible. With the exception of the Parananochromis longirostris type , mature females have a reddish or purple colored belly and a shiny metallic band in the dorsal fin. They are always significantly smaller than the males, who also differ from the females by their longer soft rays in the dorsal and anal fin and in the pelvic fins. The Parananochromis species differ from other cichlids of the Chromidotilapiini tribe . a. due to the small number of scales around the tail stalk (only 12 (12 in Enigmatochromis , 12 to 14 in Limbochromis , 14 to 16 in Chromidotilapia and 16 in Benitochromis , Pelvicachromis and Thysochromis )) and three or four infraorbital bones (eye ring bones)

Way of life

Parananochromis species live close to the banks in relatively cool waters (21 to 24 ° C) in the protection of the bank vegetation, between stones and fallen leaves. They feed on growth and algae, as well as small insect larvae and the eggs of small crustaceans. They reproduce as pair-forming cave breeders , with the male defending the territory while the female is responsible for brood care ( father-mother family ).

Parananochromis caudifasciatus
Parananochromis longirostris

species

At the moment (March 2015) eight species are included in the genus Parananochromis :

literature

  • Anton Lamboj: The cichlids of western Africa. Publisher: Natur und Tier, 2006, ISBN 3-86659-000-8 .

Web links

Commons : Parananochromis  - Collection of images, videos and audio files