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Dorsal spines (total): 15-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Diagnosis: Parananochromis elobatus is distinguished from all congeners except P. brevirostris and P. ornatus by the presence of 3 tubular infraorbital bones vs. 4, and from all congeners except P. brevirostris by absence of scales on chest and a weakly developed pharyngeal pad vs. well developed (Ref. 97361). It is distinguished from P. brevirostris in lacking elongated fin lappets in the dorsal fin vs. presence of elongated fin lappets, and in having golden dots on scales of mid-lateral scale row and row immediately below vs. in 2-3 ventralmost lateral scale rows (Ref. 97361).
Description: Snout moderately rounded (Ref. 97361). Infraorbital series consisting of lachrymal and three tubular elements; small gap between second infraorbital and small dermosphenotic; lachrymal portion of infraorbital sensory canal with four openings (Ref. 97361). Premaxilla and dentary with 3-4 rows of numerous, acutely cusped, unicuspid teeth, with minor size difference between teeth of inner and outer rows; lower pharyngeal bone narrowly triangular, with numerous slender, shouldered unicuspid teeth on lateral parts of the bone and few larger asymmetric bicuspid teeth in central field (Ref. 97361). First gill arch with 6-7 tuberculate gill rakers on ceratobranchial and 3-4 pointed gill rakers on epibranchial; hanging pad on roof of pharynx poorly developed (Ref. 97361). Scales cycloid: 16-20 upper lateral-line scales; 6-8 lower lateral-line scales; 12 circumpeduncular scales; cheek with 1-2 scale rows; 4 horizontal rows on opercle; dark spot on outer edge of opercle unscaled; chest naked or with few, small and deeply embedded scales; upper lateral line separated from dorsal-fin base at highest point by 1-2 scales; on last pored scale by 0-½ scales; posteriormost point of upper lateral line not overlapping lower; basal third to half of caudal fin covered with scales; other fins unscaled (Ref. 97361).
Colouration: In life, adult base body colouration light brown, darker dorsally than ventrally; dark spot on outer edge of opercle extending anteriorly and posteriorly into mid-lateral stripe (Ref. 97361). Anterior part of dorsal fin and upper part of caudal fin with narrow red margin, usually more developed in males; posterior part of dorsal fin with white margin, often absent in females; soft dorsal, caudal and posterior parts of anal fin in both sexes clear to bluish gray, with rows of dark or red spots in males; spots absent or very weakly developed and much less distinct in females; dorsal part of caudal fin in some males with 4-5 black dots on distal margin; anterior part of anal fin violet to bluish, always more intensely-coloured in males; pelvic fin pale bluish to white, with dark anterior edge, more intensely-coloured in males than in females; pectoral fins clear (Ref. 97361). Two dark horizontal stripes on body visible in most behavioural situations: upper one more diffuse and often absent, at level of two uppermost scale rows on body, reaching from center of eye to end of dorsal fin base; lower stripe runs midlaterally from snout through eye, extending to base of caudal fin; stripes occasionally absent or replaced by pattern of 7-8 dark, irregular blotches in upper half of body; interorbital, narial and lachrymal stripes on head usually visible (Ref. 97361). Ripe females with rosy to violet belly and white genital papilla (Ref. 97361). Upper lips brownish, lower lips light gray (Ref. 97361). Body scales with dark margins across entire body in males; margins usually less prominent and restricted to dorsal parts of body in females; males with 1-2 scale rows with golden dots at center; juveniles of both sexes with 2 rows of irregular dark spots on brown background colouration; adult colouration appearing with increasing size (Ref. 97361). In preserved specimens, head and body brown to brownish-gray, with dorsal half darker than ventral; a black midlateral stripe, continuous from eye to base of caudal fin; sometimes fragmented as seven to eight diffuse and irregular dark blotches (Ref. 97361). Unpaired fins dusky gray or brownish; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with rows of black spots in males (Ref. 97361). |