Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Haplochromis: Greek, Haploos = single + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); paradoxus: From the Greek 'paradoxos', meaning 'contrary to expectation, incredible'; the species name is a double entendre, in reference to the strange appearance of the fishes, especially their strongly oblique gape and lower jaw, and to their seemingly paradoxical zoogeographical situation (Ref. 51927).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 51927)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: Haplochromis paradoxus differs from all known paedophagous species of Haplochromis of the Lake Edward system by its more numerous outer teeth, 36-65 vs. 16-35, that are strongly recurved and closely set in long tooth bands (Ref. 127594). It is further distinct from H. gracilifur and H. molossus by a longer snout, 28.7-36.0% of head length vs. 24.0-26.7% and 25.1-30.7%, respectively, and longer head, 32.2-36.2% of standard length vs. 29.8-30.7% and 29.5-32.0%, respectively (Ref. 127594). It differs from H. taurinus by its smaller eyes, 25.3-32.1% of head length vs. 32.9-40.2%, and from H. relictidens by its more slender head, 41.7-51.2% of head length vs. 47.7-54.7% (Ref. 127594). Mature males dorsally grey to bluish and ventrally intense yellow vs. different colour patterns in other paedophages (Ref. 127594). Haplochromis paradoxus can be distinguished from piscivorous sensu stricto species from Lake Edward system by its small teeth with very strongly recurved necks and short, bluntly pointed, and usually weakly tricuspid crowns vs. larger, straight to recurved, and acutely pointed teeth in piscivores; its lips are slightly thickened, and its maxillae reach posteriorly before vertical through anterior edge of eyes vs. lips are not thickened and maxilla generally exceed this point in piscivorous species (Ref. 127594). It's a haplochromine species with a strongly oblique gape and lower jaw, in connection with a pronounced concavity in the outline of the head in front of the eye (Ref. 51927). It is distinguished from members of the genus Pyxichromis by a lower body depth, 31.5-33.5% of standard length vs. 35-42%; a lower cheek, 20-24% of head length vs. 24-32%; and the dentition of the oral jaws consisting of bicuspid and tricuspid teeth in both jaws (Ref. 51927).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vranken, N., M. Van Steenberge and J. Snoeks, 2019. Grasping ecological opportunities: not one but five paedophagous species of Haplochromis (Teleostei: Cichlidae) in the Lake Edward system. Hydrobiologia 832(1):105-134. (Ref. 127594)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00674 - 0.03099), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
