Gnathochromis pfefferi

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Gnathochromis pfefferi
Gnathochromis pfefferi2.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Gnathochromis
Species:
G. pfefferi
Binomial name
Gnathochromis pfefferi
(Boulenger, 1898)
Synonyms
  • Paratilapia pfefferiBoulenger, 1898
  • Haplochrmomis pfefferi(Boulenger, 1898)
  • Limnochromis pfefferi(Boulenger, 1898)

Gnathochromis pfefferi is an African species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and its slow-flowing tributaries in the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. [1] It is common and widespread. [1] This cichlid is found in relatively shallow waters, typically over soft bottoms in places with aquatic grasses. [1]

It reaches up to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, [2] and females are a little smaller than males. [3] It eats invertebrates (especially shrimp [4] ) and plant material. [1] Like many other Tanganyika cichlids, it is a mouthbrooder [2] [4] and sometimes kept in aquariums. [3]

Although currently included in the genus Gnathochromis , it is distantly related to the type species G. permaxillaris (tribe Limnochromini), instead being closer to Tropheini. [5] The specific name honours the German zoologist Georg Johann Pfeffer (1854-1931). [6]

Related Research Articles

Greenwoodochromis is a small genus of cichlid fish that are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It is the only genus in the monotypic tribe Greenwoodochromini, however, some authorities have synonymised the Greenwoodochromini with the tribe Limnochromini.

<i>Aulonocranus</i> Genus of fishes

Aulonocranus dewindti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika and some rivers which flow into it.

<i>Ectodus</i> Species of fish

Ectodus descampsii is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it prefers areas with substrates of coarse sand. It feeds on micro-organisms, algae and diatoms. This species reaches a length of 10.4 centimetres (4.1 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours Capitaine Georges Descamps (1855-1938), a Belgian officer in the anti-slavery movement at Lake Tanganyika.

<i>Neolamprologus leleupi</i> Species of fish

Neolamprologus leleupi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs throughout the lake. It is a recess-dweller, inhabiting cracks and crevices. It feeds on invertebrates living in the rich biocover of the substrate. This species reaches a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. The color of this fish ranges from bright yellow to deep brown. Both color variations exist at each location where this species is found. This relatively small cichlid is a substrate spawner. It is easily confused with the very similar N. longior a fish also endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The specific name honours the Belgian entomologist Narcisse Leleup (1912-2001), who collected the type.

<i>Grammatotria</i> Genus of fishes

Grammatotria lemairii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it prefers areas with sandy substrates. This species can reach a length of 26 centimetres (10 in) TL. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The species is occasionally kept as an aquarium fish. The specific name honours Lieutenant Charles Lemaire (1863-1925) who was the leader of the Congo Free State Expedition, which collected specimens of fishes at Lake Tanganyika, including the type of G. lemairii.

Giant cichlid Species of fish

The giant cichlid, also known as the emperor cichlid, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It is the only member of its genus Boulengerochromis and tribe Boulengerochromini.

Baileychromis centropomoides is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. This fish grows to a length of 16.8 centimetres (6.6 in) TL. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The generic name is a compound noun, made up of the surname Bailey, in honour of the American ichthyologist Reeve Maclaren Bailey (1911-2011) of the University of Michigan, and the Greek word chromis which was used by Aristotle for a type of fish. This was probably the drum Sciaenidae and may be derived from the word chroemo which means "to neigh" in reference to the noise made by drums. This word was applied to a number of percomorph fishes, such as damselfish, cardinalfish, dottybacks, wrasses and cichilds, by ichthyologists as these were thought to be closely related.

Benthochromis tricoti Species of fish

Benthochromis tricoti is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa and lives at depths of up to 100 m (330 ft). It feeds on small crustaceans and plankton. It reaches a maximum length of 16.5 cm (6.5 in). Like many other cichlids, it is a mouthbrooder.

Cardiopharynx schoutedeni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. This semi-pelagic fish prefers habitats over sandy bottoms where it feeds on aquatic microorganisms. It can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the Belgian zoologist Henri Schouteden (1881-1972) who was director of Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale in Tervuren and who was one of the first zoologists to collect this species.

<i>Cunningtonia</i> Genus of fishes

Cunningtonia longiventralis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa where it is found near rocky shores. It eats floating plankton. This species reaches a length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. As of 2011 it is the only known member of its genus. The generic name honours the British zoologist and anthropologist William Alfred Cunnington (1877-1958), the leader of the expedition to Lake Tanganyika during which type was collected.

<i>Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni</i> Species of fish

Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers areas with sandy substrates in which it digs crater-shaped nests. This carnivorous species takes fish as prey. This species can reach a length of 29.1 centimetres (11.5 in) TL. This species inclusion in this genus has been questioned based upon its lacking many of the characteristics of its congeners. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this fish honours the British zoologist William Alfred Cunnington (1877-1958), who collected the type on an expedition to Lake Tanganyika.

Neolamprologus savoryi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species reaches a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this cichlid honours Bryan Wyman Savory (1904-1988) who was the District Commissioner of Kigoma in the Tanganyika Territory during the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika of 1946–1947, this expedition collected the type.

Neolamprologus wauthioni is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it inhabits snail shells. This species reaches a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL. The specific name of this cichlid honours René Wauthion, a Provincial Commissioner in the Belgian Congo during the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika of 1946–1947, this expedition collected the type.

The threadfin cichlid is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika found in areas with rocky substrates on which it can graze on algae. This species can reach a length of 18 cm (7.1 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name of this cichlid honours the British ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas (1900-1993).

Plecodus straeleni is a species of cichlid fish that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. This species can reach a total length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in).

Pseudosimochromis babaulti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika preferring areas with rock-rubble substrates. It can reach a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the collector of the type, the French explorer, naturalist and conservationist Guy Babault.

Telmatochromis dhonti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the collector of the type G. Dhont-De Bie of the Belgian East African Expeditionary Force.

Trematocara caparti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) TL. This fish's specific name honours André Capart (1914-1991) the Belgian oceanographer who was a member of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika in 1946 and 1947, during which type of this species was collected.

Trematocara kufferathi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species can reach a length of 6.8 centimetres (2.7 in) TL. This fish's specific name honours the Belgian chemist Jean Kufferath, who was a member of the Belgian Hydrobiological Mission to Lake Tanganyika in 1946 and 1947, during which type of this species was collected.

<i>Xenochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Xenochromis hecqui is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is mainly found at depths of 6–100 m (20–328 ft), but has been recorded somewhat deeper, even in waters virtually devoid of oxygen. This species is a scale eater, consuming the scales off of other fishes, but will also feed on copepods. It can reach a total length of up to 30 cm (12 in). Currently it is the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours the Belgian Lieutenant Célestin Hecq (1859-1910), a member of the Belgian colonial forces fighting the slave trade who collected the type of this species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ntakimazi, G. (2006). "Gnathochromis pfefferi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2006: e.T60492A12364430. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60492A12364430.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Gnathochromis pfefferi" in FishBase . April 2017 version.
  3. 1 2 Tanganyika: Gnathochromis pfefferi. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 Ochi, H. (1993). Maintenance of Separate Territories for Mating and Feeding by Males of a Maternal Mouthbrooding Cichlid, Gnathochromis pfefferi, in Lake Tanganyika. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 40(2): 173-182.
  5. Duftner; Koblmüller; and Sturmbauer (2005.) Evolutionary Relationships of the Limnochromini, a Tribe of Benthic Deepwater Cichlid Fish Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. J Mol Evol 60: 277–289. doi: 10.1007/s00239-004-0017-8.
  6. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 2 February 2019.