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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Protomelas: Greek, protos = the first + Greek, melas, melanos = black (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical, preferred ?; 9°S - 15°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs in the southern part of the lake.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4996)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 30. Distinguished from P. kirkii by the narrow preorbital bone, shorter, steeper snout and smaller mouth with, usually, fewer teeth.

Usually found in relatively shallow water (Ref. 267). Feeds on small snails and invertebrates found on the vegetation (Ref. 5595).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Maréchal, C., 1991. Protomelas. p. 387-393. 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. 4996)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Aquarium: commercial

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Internet sources

Protomelas labridens (Trewavas, 1935)