Morphology Data of Tylochromis praecox
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Stiassny, M.L.J., 1989
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors
Remarks Sexual dimorphism of the buccal dentition pronounced, and already clearly evident in small specimens (9.5cm SL); male dentition is considerably coarser than that of females of equivalent sizes, and all teeth are larger and fewer in number (Ref. 52346).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: upper lateral line extending full length of dorsal fin base and descending a row before proceeding the length of 3 or more scales; 15 gill-rakers along lower limb of first arch; 35-37 lateral line scales; relatively large headed and deep bodied; pectoral fin long, usually extending to level of spinous anal fin (Ref. 52346).

Description: moderately deep-bodied (Ref. 52307, 52346). Head profile steep, but somewhat flattened above the eyes (Ref. 52307). Strong dorsal body curvature and ventral flattening; predorsal profile rises steeply over snout, usually interrupted by slight thickening of interobital region, then continues rising smoothly to dorsal fin origin; deepest body depth along back at origin of dorsal fin; mouth more or less along horizontal when closed; lower pharyngeal jaw weakly developed; lips moderately fleshy and thickened; inferior vertebral apophysis of standard Tylochromis type, with minor contribution of 4th vertebra forming a buttress for 3th vertebral process; gill-rakers along lower limb of first arch stout, crenate and well spaced; first few hypobranchial rakers often simple and somewhat elongate; epibranchial rakers relatively broad; 35-37 lateral line scales; upper lateral line extensive, extending full length of dorsal fin base and descending a row before proceeding length of 3 or more scales; terminal canal bearing scales descend a scale row and canal continues for 3-4 scales; dorsal, ventral and median lateral line branches on caudal fin well developed, extending to fin periphery; caudal fin very densely scaled to fin periphery; dorsal fin spines increase in length to 5th and then are more or less equal in length; anal fin rounded; pectoral fin moderately long, usually extending to level of spinous anal fin; first branched pelvic ray produced and filamentous, reaching beyond level of spinous anal fin in some individuals; caudal fin broad and roundly emarginate (Ref. 52346).

Coloration: body and lips silvery; head, cheeks and opercula of adults more golden; body often with horizontal yellowish lines; larger specimens (males?) with black spots on the soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins (Ref. 52307). Preserved specimens: body uniform light brown; upper lip black and ethmoid region dark dusky grey in male specimens; nape band is very strongly pigmented, short, broad and not extending down to the diffuse opercular blotch; lower lip, upper lip membranes and branchiostegal membranes white; no traces of any vertical bands behind the nape band; dorsal fin smokey grey with rows of numerous pale maculae; caudal stripes fine and numerous; preserved females exhibit similar, but muted, body and dorsal fin markings; faint traces of vertical stripes only present in the smallest individuals (Ref. 52346).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Tylochromis praecox

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 15 - 15
on upper limb 8 - 9
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 28 - 28

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0
Ventral  0
Spines total 14 - 15
Soft-rays total 13 - 14
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total 7 - 7

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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