Haplochromis taurinus Trewavas, 1933
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: Haplochromis taurinus differs from all Haplochromis species of Lake Edward system by its anteriorly curved outer teeth in the lower jaw (Ref. 127594). It is distinct from all other known paedophagous species within these lakes by its larger eyes, 32.9-40.2% of head length vs. 29.0-34.7%, and outer teeth with conical necks and bicuspid crowns with major cusps that bear a clear flange vs. cylindrical to constricted necks and uni-, bi-, or weakly tricuspid crowns that, in large specimens of more than 100 mm standard length, bear no flange (Ref. 127594). It is similar to H. molossus and H. gracilifur by its rounded jaws and small lachrymal bones; distinct from H. gracilifur by its deeper caudal peduncle, depth 73.9-88.1% of caudal peduncle length vs. 62.9-66.4%, and longer premaxillary pedicel, 23.5-26.2% of head length vs. 18.1-21.6%; distinct from H. molossus by its more slender jaws, 51.4-72.7% of lower jaw length vs. 67.0-87.0%, more gentle sloping snout, 35-40° vs. 45-55°, and steeper gape inclination, 40-45° vs. 20-30° (Ref. 127594). It is easily separated from H. relictidens and H. paradoxus by its smaller lachrymal bones, 11.5-16.4% of head length vs. 15.8-18.4% and 14.7-21.5%, respectively, and broadly rounded lower jaw vs. anteriorly slender lower jaw; in addition, it has more outer teeth in the upper jaw than H. relictidens and fewer than H. paradoxus, 23-39 vs. 16-26 and 36-65, respectively (Ref. 127594). Mature males of H. taurinus have metallic-blue bodies with dark red flanks vs. colour pattern different in all other paedophagous species (Ref. 127594).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Haplochromis
Species: Haplochromis taurinus Trewavas, 1933
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Apparently confined to inshore areas of the lake where it has been taken off the papyrus fringe and also over sandy beaches in sheltered areas (Ref. 558, 4983). It has a paedophagous diet (Ref. 127594).
Habitat
benthopelagic