Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Sarotherodon: Greek, saros, -ou = sawdust + Greek, ther = animal * Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 5°N - 4°N
Africa: endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon (Ref. 52307, 81260).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81260)
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: 17-20 rakers on lower limb of first arch; length of lower pharyngeal jaw < 43.5% of head length; 30-32 scales in lateral line; head length 39-48% of standard length (Ref. 81260). Toothed area of lower pharyngeal jaw contained 2-3 times in length of ventral keel (Ref. 2, 81260). Total dorsal rays (including spines) 26-28 (Ref. 81260). General color dull grey; breeding (or spent?) males with black or grey smudges; no tilapia-mark, at least 6.2 cm SL or over (Ref. 2).
The young of the species are more carnivorous than the adults; the latter feed predominantly on phytoplankton (Ref. 2). Lacks marked sexual dichromatism when sexually active; forms temporary pair bonds (Ref. 81260).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
It is not known which parent mouth-broods the large eggs.
Trewavas, E. and G.G. Teugels, 1991. Sarotherodon. p. 425-437. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 4999)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01905 (0.00827 - 0.04391), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (13 of 100).