Parananochromis caudifasciatus (Boulenger, 1913)
Parananochromis caudifasciatus
photo by AquaNet

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  10 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6; dH range: 2,
Distribution:  Africa: drainages of the Lokundje, Nyong, Ntem and Dja (Cameroon) (Ref. 81260). Also in the Ntem system in Gabon (Ref. 81260) and Equatorial Guinea (Ref. 5673). Restricted to forested areas (Ref. 5673).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 14-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-8. Diagnosis: lachrymal plus four tubular infraorbitals; slight gap between third and fourth tubular infraorbital; snout rounded; soft dorsal and anal fins, and caudal fin usually densely marked with vertically aligned rows of maculae in both sexes, those on caudal fin coalesced and usually forming a series of vertical bands (Ref. 81260). Description: robust when adult (body depth 29.7-36.2% SL); head length 29.7-37.5% SL; snout short and rounded; predorsal profile smoothly convex, rising steeply over eyes; mouth moderately small; lower jaw inclined slightly upward; ventral body wall rounded to caudal peduncle which is usually deeper than long; upper branch of lateral line high on body, separated from dorsal base at highest point by 1-2 scale rows; 7-8 (rarely 9) tuberculate rakers on lower limb of first arch, 3-5 lanceolate epibranchial rakers; caudal fin rounded in both sexes, upper lobe in males never elongated (Ref. 81260). Coloration: body grey to light brown, paler ventrally (Ref. 81260). Cheek and opercle pale yellow (Ref. 52307, 81260). Lachrymal stripe usually present; mid-lateral band extending from opercular spot to caudal base, small caudal spot sometimes present; mid-lateral band often replaced by 8-9 small black spots; these spots can have vertical extensions reaching to dorsal base (Ref. 81260). Chest and belly in ripe females rosy to violet (Ref. 81260) with a whitish genital papilla (and surrounding region)(Ref. 52307). Leading edge of pelvic white, rest of fin pale blue; dorsal fin with thin black margin and white submarginal zone; in ripe females white submarginal zone forms a broad silvery white or rosy band; upper half of caudal with black margin and white submargin; soft dorsal and posterior parts of anal in both sexes grey with clear bands of pale blue maculae, always more developed in males than females; caudal fin usually densely marked with vertically aligned rows of maculae, often coalesced and forming a series of vertical bands; anal fin dark violet (males) or pale violet (females); dark scale margins on body scales more defined in males than females (Ref. 81260).
Biology:  Monogamous, biparental, substrate spawner displaying some degree of sexual dichromatism (Ref. 81260). Pair-bonding, cave spawner (Ref. 52307).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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