Description

Vertebrae: 28 - 31. Diagnosis: Haplochromis katunzii belongs to an assemblage of small sized (less than 9 cm standard length), relatively deep-bodied (body depth larger than 35% of standard length) micrognathic species with a moderately curved to straight dorsal head profile; the fish in this group have relatively small, mainly bicuspid, teeth in the oral jaws (Ref. 85523). It can be distinguished from Haplochromis paropius, Haplochromis cinctus and Haplochromis antleter by live colouration of sexually active males: Haplochromis katunzii is sandy-brown, and has rather distinct vertical bars; H. antleter is dusky coloured, has faint vertical bars and no or a faint lachrymal stripe; H. cinctus has a red dorsum, an orange to yellowish flank and dark vertical bars; H. paropius has a red dorsum, a greenish flank and is the only species of the assemblage that often has a mid-lateral band (Ref. 85523). Haplochromis katunzii has a larger cheek depth, 18.6-24.6% of head length, than H. antleter, 16.1-21.1% of head length, as well as a more pronounced mental prominence on the lower jaw; and it has a smaller interorbital width, 19.2-24.1% of head length, than H. cinctus, 24.3-27.2% of head length (Ref. 85523).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Haplochromis

Species: Haplochromis katunzii ter Huurne & Witte, 2010

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

A benthic species found in sub-littoral areas of the Mwanza Gulf, mainly over mud bottoms; the depth range is 2-15 m (Ref. 85523). Before the ecological changes in Lake Victoria, this species fed mainly on detritus, but also included phytoplankton, insect larvae and copepods in its diet (Ref. 85523). Based on the egg dummies on the anal fin it is supposed to be a female mouth brooder (Ref. 85523).

Habitat

demersal