Spathodus
| Spathodus | ||||||||||||
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Spathodus erythrodon |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Spathodus | ||||||||||||
| Boulenger , 1900 |
Spathodus ( Gr .: spathe = sword + odous = tooth) is a genus of African cichlids (Cichlidae), two species endemic to the East African Lake Tanganyika . Only in the extreme south of the lake are the fish missing.
features
Spathodus species are a maximum of 8.5 or 10 cm long and are similar to the related genera Eretmodus and Tanganicodus . In contrast to these, the beige to pink-beige colored fish have no vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes or two rows of brown spots may be visible. There are numerous blue dots on the head and torso. The very long teeth, which are arranged in a row or in groups of three to four teeth, are typical of the species. The top of the teeth is blunt and sloping. The mouth is pointed. In old age the animals often get a hump on the forehead. The dorsal fin has 21 to 25 fin spines. The number of gill rakes is 12 to 16.
species
- Spathodus erythrodon Boulenger, 1900
- Spathodus marlieri Poll, 1950
Way of life
Spathodus species live in shallow water near the shore, Spathodus erythrodon mostly at depths of less than 30 cm, Spathodus erythrodon mostly at depths of about two meters. The fish feed on microorganisms that they pick from the growth. The females are mouthbrooders .
literature
- Pierre Brichard: The Big Book of Tanganyika Cichlids. With all the other fish on Lake Tanganyika. Bede Verlag, 1995, ISBN 978-3927997943 , p. 273 u. 407
Web links
- Spathodus on Fishbase.org (English)