Actinopteri (ray-finned fishes) > Cichliformes
(Cichlids, convict blennies) > Cichlidae
(Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Chromidotilapia: Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch + Bechuana, African native thiape = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Sauvage.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 23°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672); 16°N - 4°S, 17°W - 16°E
Africa: coastal basins from the river St. John in Liberia to lower Cameroon and the Benito River in Equatorial Guinea, in forest and northern adjoining savannah; also known from the Niger and the Bénoué River (Ref. 53405). Previously, two subspecies were recognized: Chromidotilapia guntheri guntheri and Chromidotilapia guntheri loennbergi.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 6.0  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 83624)
(total): 15 - 17;
soft rays: 6 - 8. Diagnosis: 21-25 rakers on first gill arch; when stressed with two continuous dark bands on body; 1st dorsal fin spine 30-35% length of fifth spine; caudal fin truncate to subtruncate; dorsal head profile straight; iris yellow to brownish, posterior half sometimes red; upper lip white or pale blue; anterior 2-3 dorsal fin spines with black interspinous membrane in juveniles (Ref. 81260).
Substrate spawning, ovophilic, pair bonding, male mouthbrooding species (Ref. 81260). Both parents take care of the young after hatching (Ref. 47115).
Male mouthbrooder; both parents take care of the young after hatching (Ref. 47115). This corrects previous information from Ref. 26489.
Daget, J., 1991. Chromidotilapia. p. 47-50. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 5616)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 125652)
Threat to humans
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804
= 0.5005 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.01252 - 0.01747), b=2.98 (2.93 - 3.03), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245
Trophic level (Ref. 69278
): 2.6 ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref. 120179
): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm<1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153
): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).