Description

Vertebrae: 29 - 32. Diagnosis: Haplochromis pancitrinus is a small sized (less than 9 cm standard length), relatively slender (body depth 29.0-33.5% of standard length), micrognathic species, with mainly bicuspid teeth in the oral jaws (Ref. 85523). Although there are many species that resemble Haplochromis pancitrinus, no other species are known with the typical golden-yellow colouration of sexually active males, without any distinct markings (Ref. 85523).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Haplochromis

Species: Haplochromis pancitrinus Mietes & Witte, 2010

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Found in sub-littoral waters of the northern part of the Mwanza Gulf over mud bottoms; occasionally it was caught over mud bottoms, in shallower areas more southward in the Gulf (Ref. 85523). Before the ecological changes in Lake Victoria, this species fed on phytoplankton, mainly Cyanophyta; the diet further included Chaoborus larvae, copepods and occasionally detritus (Ref. 85523). Based on the egg dummies on the anal fin and the egg size in ripe females, this species is a female mouth brooder (Ref. 85523).

Habitat

benthopelagic