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Protomelas spilopterus (Trewavas, 1935) |
| Family: | Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae | |||
| Max. size: | 24 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs throughout the lake. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Description: lips very thick; eyes relatively large; teeth clearly bicuspid (Ref. 55954), or stout, simple or very unequal bicuspid in outer oral jaws (Ref. 55954). | |||
| Biology: | Uncommon. Structure of mouth and pharyngeal dentition suggest that it is a paedophage (Ref. 267). Mouthbrooding by females (Ref. 53335). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||