Serranochromis robustus
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Serranochromis robustus |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Serranochromis robustus | ||||||||||||
| ( Günther , 1864) |
Serranochromis robustus ( synonym .: Haplochromis borleyi ) is a cichlid species that occurs in the East African Lake Malawi , in its tributaries and in its outflow, the Upper Shire . The species was in the man Ruo in Malawi and Swaziland exposed .
features
The fish species can reach a length of 56 cm and a maximum weight of 6.1 kg. This makes it the largest species of cichlid in Lake Malawi and is only surpassed by a few species of catfish. Serranochromis robustus is massive, has a large head and a deeply split mouth. Males are olive green, head and back are darker than the rest of the body. As the fish get older, they get darker. The dorsal and caudal fin are colored like the body and lined with red, the anal fin is slightly yellowish to rosy. The caudal fin and the soft-rayed sections of the dorsal and anal fin are covered with orange-colored dots, which are more prominent in courting males. Then the males also get a yellow belly and throat, while the chest and paired fins turn black. Females and fry are yellow to olive brown in color and show two dark longitudinal stripes on the sides of the body.
Way of life
Serranochromis robustus is rare in Lake Malawi and occurs mainly in the southern part of the lake near river mouths over sandy soil and in areas covered with vegetation. In the rivers, the species prefers to live in quiet bays or other river sections with little current. It feeds primarily on smaller fish, including mbunas and cichlids that inhabit sandy bottoms. In addition, mollusks, insects, their larvae and crustaceans are eaten. Serranochromis robustus reproduces in the southern summer from September to February and can produce several broods at intervals of three to five weeks during this time. Like all haplochromine cichlids, Serranochromis robustus is a mouthbrooder in which the female takes care of the brood. To spawn, the male digs a sand pit with a diameter of about 40 cm and a depth of about 10 cm. The juvenile fish that swim freely and are no longer protected by their parents avoid open water.
literature
- Anton Lamboj: The cichlids of western Africa. Publisher: Natur und Tier, 2006, ISBN 386-659000-8
Web links
- Serranochromis robustus on Fishbase.org (English)