| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
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20.71 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; depth range 15 - 23 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Malawi, known only from the southeast arm of the lake in Malawi (Ref. 41276, 55954, 79521). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Description: without typical predator habitus; bicuspid outer dentition (Ref. 55954).
Can be differentiated from species of Mylochromis, except M. gracilis and M. spilostichus by having shallower body (26-28% SL vs. 29-44), and higher number of lateral line scales (37-38 vs. 30-36); the oblique band is continuous, extending onto the caudal peduncle, while in M. spilostichus, the band is broken into a series of spots and in M. gracilis, the band may be broken and does not continue onto the caudal peduncle; M. spilostichus and M. gracilis generally possess a much shallower preorbital bone depth (16.7 and 19.2-20.0, vs. 19.9-26) than M. ensatus (Ref. 41276). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits shallow sandy shores; rare species (Ref. 41276). Feeds on invertebrates found in the sand (Ref. 79521). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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