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 |