Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Hemichromis: Greek, hemis = half + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); guttatus: From the Latin "guttatus" = speckled, apparently referring to the pattern of black dots in the cheek and opercular region of the type material (Ref. 43352). More on author: Günther.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Tropical, preferred ?
Africa: coastal rivers from Sierra Leone (Ref. 81260) to Cameroon, excepted Lower Volta basin (Ref. 5644). A forest associated species (Ref. 5644). Introduced around 1970 in a stream fed by hot springs in Villach (Austria) (Ref. 59043).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5644)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 13 - 15;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9-12;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 7 - 9;
Vertebrae: 25. Diagnosis: mouth small, premaxilla moderately protractile (Ref. 43352). Snout short (Ref. 43352) and obtuse, scarcely longer than eye (Ref. 522). 2 middle teeth of upper jaw scarcely longer than others; scales on cheek in 3-4 series (Ref. 552). Pharyngeal bone roughly triangular, heavily dentigerous (Ref. 43352), with 22-24 teeth along posterior margin (Ref. 3032, 43352). Pharyngeal teeth bicuspid with clearly defined minor cusp (Ref. 3032, 43352). Median pharyngeal teeth non-molariform (Ref. 3032). Orbit narrow, caudal peduncle deep (Ref. 43352). Dorsal fin commences before root of pectoral (Ref. 552). Operculum with large black spot (Ref. 552), another black oval spot on side of body (Ref. 552, 3032, 43352, 81260), latter sometimes absent (Ref. 81260). Black spot on caudal peduncle normally present, small and ovoid (Ref. 81260). Sides of head with round black spots (Ref. 552). Irregular distributed pattern of blue spangling on head, body and unpaired fins (Ref. 43352, 81260). Never with multiple series of distinct blotches or bars on flanks (Ref. 81260).
Eurytopic; found most frequently in association with stands of emergent or submerged aquatic plants; particularly abundant in shallower and quieter stretches of large rivers, in small lateral tributaries of such streams, in oxbox lakes and in swampy habitats; even maintains breeding populations in coastal lagoons; absent from rapids zone of streams or in headwaters flowing through montane forest; forest-associated species (Ref. 43352). Pair-bonding, substrate brooders (Ref. 81260). Aquarium keeping: aggressive species, requires sufficient space to build territories; omnivore; spawns up to 300 eggs which hatch after 2 days, young are free-swimming after 5 days (Ref. 57572).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Reported to form pairs. Female deposits eggs on exposed hard surfaces such as stones or wood. Both parents guard larvae and juveniles for about 4 weeks (Ref. 59043).
Daget, J. and G.G. Teugels, 1991. Hemichromis. p. 187-194. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa, CLOFFA, ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 5644)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
More information
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundance
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