| Lamprologus congoensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cichliformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Tribe: | Lamprologini |
| Genus: | Lamprologus |
| Species: | L. congoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lamprologus congoensis Schilthuis, 1891 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Lamprologus congoensis, the Congo lionhead cichlid [2] is a species of riverine cichlid which is widespread in the Congo River, it is the type species of the genus Lamprologus . [3]
Lamprolgus congoensis is one of the more deep-bodied riverine species of Lamprolgus with the mean body depth being 25.2% of the standard length and the head is roughly one third of the standard length. Smaller fish have the forehead at a steeper angle than more mature fish. It is a sexually dimorphic species in which the males attain a larger size than the females and develop a fat-filled nuchal hump on the head, and have relatively longer fins than the females. The base body colouration is greyish lavender, shading to yellow on the belly, just to the rear of the base of the pectoral fin, along the junction of preoperculum and operculum, and around lower margin of orbit. There is a scaleless, dark spot on the operculum and there are normally five or six darkish vertical bars along flanks . Each flank scales has dark pigment distributed uniformly around exposed rare edde and these intersect to create a pattern reminiscent of chain mail. Small, whitish spots form lines along the membranes between the rays of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. These three fins also show oblique black striations. There are iridescent spots in towards the posterior point of most of the flank scales, next to the overlapping edge of the scale in front of it. [3] Males grow to around 15 cm in total length, [4] females to 10 cm. [5]
Lamprolgus congoensis occurs in the Congo River basin, from the Pool Malebo to Monsembe in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the lower Kasai and in the upper Sangha in the Central African Republic. [4]
Lamprolgus congoensis is a benthopelagic species which is found in areas of rapids [6] It appears to feed on invertebrates and a gut examined contains the remains of insects and spider, [3] They males are territorial and usually have a number of females within the territory he guards, the female lays 80 or so eggs in a sheltered spot such as a cave, laying the eggs onto the ceiling of the cave. The eggs hatch after around 54 hours and the eggs and young fish are guarded by the female until the fry become free swimming at eight days old. [7] [2]
Lamprolgus congoensis is a quarry species for fisheries and is a species used for human consumption. [1] It is common and easy to breed in the aquarium. [3]
Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.
The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for cichlid fish that use the empty shells of aquatic snails as sites for breeding and shelter. The terms have no taxonomic basis, although most shell-dwelling cichlids are from Lake Tanganyikas lamprologine lineage. Many shell dwelling cichlids are popular with fishkeepings and are frequently kept in aquaria.
The convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour.
Nanochromis transvestitus is a sexually dimorphic cichlid endemic to Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where they live at a depth of around 1 metre (3.3 ft). It feeds on small benthic invertebrates. This species reaches a length of 3.4 centimetres (1.3 in) SL. Unusually for cichlids, it is the female, not the male, that is the most colourful. The female has a vertical black and white banding on her anal and caudual fins, with a bright red abdomen. The male, by contrast, is grayish in colour. Like many cichlids, the male does, however, have longer anal and caudal fins. The fish are egg layers and make a nest in the substrate in which to lay their eggs. This species is particularly threatened by the practice of using mosquito netting to catch fish out of the lake as material with holes that small catches every species of fish in the lake regardless of size. The specific name is a derived from the Latin trans meaning "cross" or "over" and vestitus meaning "clothed", a reference to the reversal of the normal sexual dimorphism in that this species has drabber males and more colourful females.
Lamprologus is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are native to Lake Tanganyika and the Congo River Basin in Africa. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis, a species from the Congo River. The genus is under some revision and may eventually be restricted to these riverine types.
Corydoras panda is a species of catfish belonging to the genus Corydoras, of the family Callichthyidae, and is a native member of the riverine fauna of South America. It is found in Peru and Ecuador, most notably in the Huanaco region, where it inhabits the Rio Aquas, the Rio Amarillae, a tributary of the Rio Pachitea, and the Rio Ucayali river system. The species was first collected by Randolph H. Richards in 1968, and was named Corydoras panda by Nijssen and Isbrücker in 1971. The specific name is an allusion to the appearance of the fish, which possesses large black patches surrounding the eyes, reminiscent of those found on the giant panda. Accordingly, the common names for this fish, which is a popular aquarium species, are panda corydoras and panda catfish.
Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family, endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. It is popular amongst aquarium hobbyists, and is most commonly sold under the name kribensis, although it has other common names, including various derivatives and color morphs of the kribensis: krib, common krib, red krib, super-red krib and rainbow krib, along with rainbow cichlid and purple cichlid.
The banded lampeye is a species of poeciliid that is native to Africa, ranging from Senegal to Angola. It is mainly found in coastal brackish habitats such as river mouths, lagoons and mangrove swamps. It reaches up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in total length.
Ctenochromis horei is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is found in East Africa.
The convict julie is a cichlid species in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae family endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Hence it is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The fish is named after Charles Tate Regan.
The konye (Konia eisentrauti) is a critically endangered species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, a crater lake in western Cameroon. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos). This species can reach a length of 9.3 centimetres (3.7 in) TL.
Limnotilapia dardennii, the latticed cichlid, is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it prefers rocky areas near the coast. It may also be found in the aquarium trade. This species is currently the only known member of its genus.
Oreochromis karongae is a critically endangered species of cichlid that is endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe, and upper and middle Shire River in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This species is important to local commercial fisheries, but has declined drastically due to overfishing.
Oreochromis leucostictus is a species of cichlid native to Albertine Rift Valley lakes and associated rivers in DR Congo and Uganda. It has now been introduced widely elsewhere East Africa, and is believed to have negative ecological impact, particularly on native tilapias. This species is reported to reach a standard length of up to 36.3 cm (14.3 in), but is usually much smaller. It is exploited by small-scale fishery and aquaculture operations.
Protomelas kirkii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is most commonly found in areas vegetated with Vallisneria. This species can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Synodontis alberti, the bigeye squeaker, Albert's syno, bigspotted squeaker, or high-fin synodontis, is a species of upside-down catfish native to the Congo Basin of Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It was originally described in 1891 by Belgian ichthyologist Louise Schilthuis after its discovery in the Malebo Pool of the Congo River.
Lamprologus lethops is a species of cichlid fish from areas with fast current in the Congo River in Central Africa, where it is believed to live in depths as great as 160 m (520 ft) or 200 m (660 ft) below the surface. It reaches up to about 12.5 cm (5 in) in standard length, with females being somewhat smaller than males, is all whitish in color (non-pigmented), and essentially blind as adult, as their eyes are covered in a thick layer of skin. This is entirely unique among cichlids and an adaption to the perpetual darkness of its habitat, similar to the adaptions seen in cavefish. The eyes of juveniles are rudimentary and not covered by skin.
Pelvicachromis sacrimontis is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family known only from a small area of southeastern Nigeria. Currently Fishbase considers this binomial to be a junior synonym of P. pulcher and, it was also known as Pelvicachromis camerunensis, P. pulcher "form B" or P. sp. aff. pulcher but some authorities now consider it to be a valid species. It is occasionally available in the tropical fish trade as "giant krib" and there are three colour morphs – red, green and yellow. And are the most colorful of the Pelvicachromis family. Today it’s popularity increases due to more order demands by aquarium hobbyists.
Louise Schilthuis, also known as Lubbina Schilthuis, was a Dutch zoologist and a curator at the Zoology Museum at the University of Utrecht. She was active in the late 19th century and published at least two papers, both describing new species, on the specimens collected in the Congo by M.A. Greshof, a Dutch collector and trader, on the amphibians in 1889 and on the fishes on 1891. Boulenger named the mormyrid Marcusenius schilthuisiae after her.
Hemichromis letourneuxi is a species of cichlid which is native to West Africa and is popular in the aquarium hobby and it has been introduced to the Caribbean and the south-east United States where it is invasive.
