Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 29. Diagnosis: A large bodied Oreochromis, characterised by elongated jaws, projecting forwards to form a long snout, with the tooth-bands meeting in the horizontal plane; broad bands of tricuspid teeth, with long, slender shafts and curved crowns, arranged in broad bands; maxilla with a flange resting on the premaxilla at the curve between its two arms; and dorsal region and flanks dark green/olive, ventral region lighter (Ref. 2, 118638). A tasseled species (Ref. 2). Fins of ripening males dark with orange lappets on the dorsal, female fins plain grey/olive (Ref. 118638). Females and non-breeding males have 3 large blotches on the flanks (Ref. 118638). Fully ripe males are purplish blue with dark spots on the flank scales, a blue-green head, bright blue lips and have blue-white stripes and spots on the dorsal, anal and tail fins; the dorsal and tailfins have broad orange margins, and there is a long, branched orange/red genital tassel (Ref. 118638).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Oreochromis

Species: Oreochromis karomo (Poll, 1948)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Males were seen scooping up algal debris from the bottom, and occasionally they moved to the adjacent weed beds and rasp epiphytic algae (Ref. 2). A maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 2, 118638); males defend territories in shallow water, building a small platform of fine sand in the centre of a small pit (Ref. 118638). Important in swamp fishery (Ref. 4967), and an important component of the fisheries catch in Lakes Sagera and Nyamagoma; potential as an aquaculture species (Ref. 118638). The IUCN status is critically endangered, based on small range, fishing pressure and habitat degradation (Ref. 118638). Excellent to eat; occurs in shallow water; common but localized (Ref. 53528).

Habitat

benthopelagic