Otopharynx argyrosoma
Taxonomy [top]
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | ACTINOPTERYGII | PERCIFORMES | CICHLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: | Otopharynx argyrosoma |
| Species Authority: | (Regan, 1922) |
| Taxonomic Notes: | There is confusion in the collections and reports. This name should be reserved for species with red blotches on the flanks. |
Assessment Information [top]
| Red List Category & Criteria: | Least Concern ver 3.1 |
| Year Published: | 2006 |
| Assessor/s: | Kasembe, J. |
| Reviewer/s: | Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme) |
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Justification: Endemic to Lake Malawi. The main threat to this species is overfishing. A local decline in fishery catches is recorded for the southern parts of the lake, possibly due to the commercial trawl fishery, but the population is widespread throughout the rest of the lake where the trawl fishery is absent. Overall this species is assessed as Least Concern. |
|
Geographic Range [top]
| Range Description: | Endemic to Lake Malawi and the Upper Shire River. It has a lake wide distribution. |
| Countries: |
Native:
Malawi; Mozambique; Tanzania, United Republic of
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| Range Map: | Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population [top]
| Population: | No information available. |
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
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Habitat and Ecology [top]
| Habitat and Ecology: | Occurs over sand in both shallow and deeper waters. It feeds mainly on benthic crustaceans sifted from the sand. Territorial males construct sand castle nests on the open sand. Non-breeding individuals congregate in large schools. Mouth brooding schools move in groups to deeper waters. Known as "Haplochromis eucinostomus, Haplochromis longimanus" in the aquarium trade. Max. size: 15 cm TL. |
| Systems: | Freshwater |
Threats [top]
| Major Threat(s): | No information available. |
Conservation Actions [top]
| Conservation Actions: | No information available. |
Bibliography [top]
|
Eccles, D.H. and Trewavas, E. 1989. Malawian cichlid fishes. The classification of some Haplochromine genera. Lake Fish Movies, Herten, Germany. IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006. Konings, A. 1990. Konings's Book of Cichlids and All the Other Fishes of Lake Malawi. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City New Jersey. Konings, A. 1995. Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat. Second Edition. Cichlid Press, St. Leon-Rot, Germany. Snoeks, J. and Hanssens, M. 2003. Partner 3: Africa Museum (MRAC.LI). In: K. Irvine (ed.). The trophic ecology of the demersal fish community of Lake Malawi/Niassa, Central Africa. NCO-DC Final Report covering period from 1st March 1998 to 28th February 2002. |
| Citation: | Kasembe, J. 2006. Otopharynx argyrosoma. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012. |
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