Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8; Vertebrae: 28 - 29. Diagnosis: Haplochromis vanheusdeni can be distinguished from all species of the genus Orthochromis except O. torrenticola by the presence of egg spots on the anal fin in both males and females vs. no egg spots, and by hypuralia 1 and 2 and hypuralia 3 and 4 either clearly separated or separated by a clearly visible seam vs. never fused into a single seamless unit (Ref. 97348). It can be distinguished from Orthochromis kalungwishiensis, O. kasuluensis, O. luongoensis and O. torrenticola by having fewer caudal vertebrae, 14-16 vs. 17; and fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33; from O. rugufuensis and O. uvinzae by having fewer total vertebrae, 28-30 vs. 31-33, and dorsal fin spines, 16-17 vs. 19-20; from O. polyacanthus and O. rubrolabialis by having fewer inner series of teeth in the lower jaw, 1-2 vs. 3-5, and fewer dorsal fin spines, 16-17 vs. 18-20; and from O. malagaraziensis by having more scales between the lateral line and the dorsal fin origin, 3-4 vs. 5-6; from O. machadoi, O. mazimeroensis, O. stormsi and Haplochromis bakongo by having a scaleless chest vs. a scaled chest; from O. mosoensis by having small cycloid scaled on the belly vs. no scales; from O. luichensis by the different stripe and bar patterns on the head ; from Schwetzochromis neodon by the presence of lachrymal stripes and fewer inner teeth rows in both jaws, 1-3 vs. 4-6; from Haplochromis snoeksi by having fewer scales on the horizontal line, 26-29 vs. 30-31, and on upper lateral line, 20-22 vs. 23, and in having fewer caudal vertebrae, 14-16 vs. 17 (Ref. 97348).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Haplochromis

Species: Haplochromis vanheusdeni Schedel, Friel & Schliewen, 2014

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Haplochromis vanheusdeni is a benthic-rheophilic fish, mostly found among stones over sand and debris in smaller streams or larger rivers (Ref. 97348). Underwater observations suggest a mixed diet of sand-and-debris dwelling organisms and drifting food particles (Ref. 98348). Large males and brood-caring females defend small territories, sometimes centred around a whole under stones; it is a maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 97348).

Habitat

benthopelagic