Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10. Diagnosis: Hemichromis elongatus can be distinguished from H. camerounensis by the presence of a single red opercular spot or a mixture of reddish and yellowish spots dorsally of the large black opercular spot instead of two red opercular spots on the both sides of the black spot in H. camerounensis (Ref. 123791). It can be distinguished from H. fasciatus by the absence of small black dots between the first three dark stripes on the sides of the body of adults (Ref. 123791). With 4-5 distinct blotches or ovoid bars along lateral mid-line (Ref. 44091, 81260), but bands not obvious in large males which assume a very dark to almost black coloration (Ref. 44091). Scales olive to yellow; series of thin red dots often forming horizontal lines along the mid-portion of flanks; normally 2 rows of teeth on upper jaw (Ref. 81260). Magenta spot on gill cover (Ref. 44091).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Hemichromis
Species: Hemichromis elongatus (Guichenot, 1861)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Found in shallow lakes and streams (Ref. 58302). Highly predaceous and thus used in some areas for tilapia control; feeds on fish, shrimp and aquatic insects; very aggressive and territorial (Ref. 44091); the parents guard the nest and larvae (Ref. 7248). Pair-bonding, substrate brooder (Ref. 81260). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Habitat
benthopelagic