Protomelas spilonotus
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Protomelas spilonotus |
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| ( Trewavas , 1935) |
Protomelas spilonotus ( Syn .: Haplochromis spilonotus ) is a species of cichlid that is endemic to the East African Lake Malawi .
features
The fish species can reach a length of 15 to 18 cm and is moderately high backed. Males are blue and have blue fins, females are light to dark gray and their fins are transparent. A longitudinal stripe on the sides of the body is usually clearly visible and continuous, the ten or so horizontal stripes are also clearly pronounced. Longitudinal and transverse stripes belong to the primeval ( plesiomorphic ) melanin pattern that is characteristic of the genus. Protomelas spilonotus differs from other Protomelas species mainly in its yellow to bluish-white forehead pallor, the more pronounced speckles along the back and the higher number of gill rakes (16 to 18), from P. marginatus especially in the maximum body height further back. The dorsal and anal fins of the males are pointed, in the females they are rounded.
- Fins formula : dorsal XVII / 10–11, anal III / 9–11.
Way of life
Protomelas spilonotus rarely occurs in shallow water deeper than 5 meters near sediment-free, in most cases vertical rocks and feeds on insects, plankton and other invertebrates that have fallen into the water . Males are territorial and maintain small territories. Like all haplochromine cichlids, Protomelas spilonotus is a mouthbrooder in which the female takes care of the brood.
literature
- Andreas Spreinat: Lake Malawi cichlids from Tanzania. Unitext Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-926142-42-1 . Page 138.
Web links
- Protomelas spilonotus on Fishbase.org (English)