Rhamphochromis
| Rhamphochromis | ||||||||||||
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Indefinite Rhamphochromis species from Lake Chilingali |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Rhamphochromis | ||||||||||||
| Regan , 1922 |
Rhamphochromis ( Gr .: "Rhamphos" = beak, tip + chromis =damselfish genus, into which cichlids were previously incorporated) is a genus from the cichlid family (Cichlidae), which is found in Eastern Africa in Lake Malawi , in Lake Malombes , in some others Side lakes and in the upper Shire occurs.
features
Rhamphochromis species reach lengths of 28 to 45 cm. They are slim, large-headed predatory fish that are mostly silver in color. The pelvic fins are often yellow. The muzzle protrudes far and reaches half the length of the head. The premaxillary has a beak-like outgrowth lying in front. The lower jaw is strong. The teeth are conical, pointed and arranged in two rows. Sometimes there is a third row of teeth in the front part of the lower jaw. The teeth in the outer row are large and set wide apart. In the lower jaw, the teeth of the anterior second row are also enlarged.
- Fin formula : Dorsal XVI – XX / 11–13, Anale III / 9–11.
- Scale formula : mLR 36–44
Way of life
It is piscivorous predatory fish that occupy the ecological niche of bathybates from Lake Tanganyika in Lake Malawi . The most important prey fish is the carp fish Engraulicypris sardella . Like almost all cichlids in Lake Malawi, the Rhamphochromis species are mouthbrooders .
species
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Six species are assigned to the genus Rhamphochromis , which are difficult to distinguish from one another.
- Rhamphochromis esox ( Boulenger , 1908)
- Rhamphochromis ferox Regan, 1922
- Rhamphochromis longiceps ( Günther , 1864) ( type species )
- Rhamphochromis lucius Ahl , 1926
- Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus Regan, 1922
- Rhamphochromis woodi Regan, 1922
literature
- Charles Tate Regan : The cichlid fishes of Lake Nyassa. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1921: 675-727 & Plates I-VI. Page 724.
- Wolfgang Staek: Handbook of the Cichlidenkunde. Cichlids. Kosmos Verlags-GmbH, October 1987, ISBN 3-44005-094-7
Web links
- Rhamphochromis on Fishbase.org (English)