Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: Haplochromis gracilifur differs from all other known paedophages from Lake Edward by its shorter premaxillary pedicel, 18.1-21.6% of head length vs. 21.6-29.1%, smaller number of lower lateral line scales, 7-9 vs. 9-15, exceptionally 7, and bicuspid outer teeth with long minor cusps (Ref. 127594). It resembles H. molossus and H. taurinus by its rounded jaws and small lachrymal bones; it differs from both by its more slender body, 30.2-34.8% of standard length vs. 33.5-38.6% and 33.9-40.1%, respectively; it is further distinct from H. taurinus by its shorter lower jaws, 42.4-44.7% of head length vs. 44.5-51.3%, and smaller eyes, 29.0-32.3% of head length vs. 32.9-40.2%; from H. molossus by its more slender jaws, 61.9-69.4% of lower jaw length vs. 67.0-87.0%, steeper gape inclination, 40-50° vs. 20-30°, and more gentle snout inclination, 10-20° vs. 45-55° (Ref. 127594). In addition, it has more outer teeth in upper jaw than H. relictidens and fewer than H. paradoxus, 26-35 vs. 16-26 and 36-65, respectively; clearly distinct from both by its smaller lachrymal bones, 13.7-14.3% of head length vs. 15.8-18.4% and 14.7-21.5%, respectively; further separated from H. relictidens by lower jaws rounded, whereas pointed in latter (Ref. 127594). Males of H. gracilifur have bright red flanks with two horizontal stripes vs. different colour patterns in all other paedophages (Ref. 127594).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Haplochromis

Species: Haplochromis gracilifur Vranken, Van Steenberge & Snoeks, 2019

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

This species has a paedophagous diet (Ref. 127594).

Habitat

benthopelagic