Damba mipentina | |
---|---|
![]() | |
At London Zoo | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Paretroplus |
Species: | P. maculatus |
Binomial name | |
Paretroplus maculatus |
The damba mipentina (Paretroplus maculatus) is a critically endangered species of cichlid fish from turbid, shallow flood-plain lakes in the Betsiboka and Ikopa River basins in northwestern Madagascar. [2] It has declined drastically because of habitat loss, overfishing and invasive species. [1] [2] It is part of a captive breeding program by public institutions like London Zoo and among fishkeeping hobbyists. [3]
This relatively deep-bodied Paretroplus can easily be distinguished from other members of the genus by the large black spot on the side of the body. [2] It reaches 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. [4]