Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Neolamprologus tetracanthus 'Kasanga'.jpg Ophthalmotilapia ventralis 'Kasanga'.jpg Perissodus straeleni 'Kasanga'.jpg Petrochromis sp. 'red mpimbwe' Kasanga.jpg Pseudosimochromis curvifrons 'Kasanga'.jpg
Previous pageNext pagePerissodus straeleni 'Kasanga'<br><font color=gray>Plecodus straeleni 'Kasanga'</font>
Tribe / Genus: Perissodini / Perissodus
Type locality: Cape Tembwe, Lake Tanganyika.
Geographic distribution: Found throughout Lake Tanganyika with very little geographic variation. A population in the southern half of the lake, notably along the southern Congolese shore, has been reported to show males with a more intense blue coloration than males at Magara, Burundi.
Typical adult size: Females typically about 9 cm; males up to about 16 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Two main color patterns are described. Males show a bright white to bluish ground color with five vertical black to dark-blue bars, while females are gray to dark-brown with only faintly visible bars.
Biotope: Mainly associated with rocky to intermediate habitats. Occurs over a broad depth range from about 3 meters down to 40 meters or deeper.
Diet: A specialized scale-eater feeding primarily on scales of cichlids and mastacembelid eels. A portion of stomach contents has been reported to consist of fish skin, possibly associated with feeding on eels.
At least four hunting approaches have been described—pursuing, waiting, mingling, and aiming—while the attack is characterized by a rapid lateral burst with the mouth opening wide so the curved teeth can remove scales before the victim escapes.
Breeding: Described as a biparental mouthbrooder. The female incubates eggs and larvae (up to about 100 eggs reported), and after the first release the fry are cared for by both parents for an extended period.
Fry may shelter inside the parents’ mouths for more than a month after first release. Breeding males progressively darken during parental activities and may become very similar in coloration to females when actively sheltering fry, with size being the main visible distinction.
Special notes: Its coloration has been reported to closely match local forms of Cyphotilapia frontosa, and it has been suggested this resemblance may facilitate close approach to prey within the rocky habitat. However, it has been observed attacking other cichlids as well, including Cyathopharynx furcifer and Neolamprologus pulcher, and it has been questioned whether it specifically targets C. frontosa.

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Photo: © Hans van Heusden
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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