Haplochromis piceatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Haplochromis |
Species: | H. piceatus
|
Binomial name | |
Haplochromis piceatus | |
Synonyms | |
|
Haplochromis piceatus is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Victoria in East Africa. [2] Although listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, surveys since 2005 have failed to find it in its home lake and it is possibly extinct in the wild. [3] [4] Captive "safety populations" are maintained at several public aquariums. [4] [5]
This species can reach a standard length of 9 cm (3.5 in). [2] Males are bluish-black with orange fins and females are grayish. The species generally resembles H. cinereus and H. macrops, also from Lake Victoria, but it differs in having a longer jaw and a higher gill raker count. [5] In the wild it was typically found over a muddy bottom at depths of about 14–18 m (46–59 ft) where it fed on zooplankton and insect larvae, but captives will eat a wide range of standard aquarium fish food. [2] [5]
Haplochromis piceatus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Haplochromis |
Species: | H. piceatus
|
Binomial name | |
Haplochromis piceatus | |
Synonyms | |
|
Haplochromis piceatus is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Victoria in East Africa. [2] Although listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, surveys since 2005 have failed to find it in its home lake and it is possibly extinct in the wild. [3] [4] Captive "safety populations" are maintained at several public aquariums. [4] [5]
This species can reach a standard length of 9 cm (3.5 in). [2] Males are bluish-black with orange fins and females are grayish. The species generally resembles H. cinereus and H. macrops, also from Lake Victoria, but it differs in having a longer jaw and a higher gill raker count. [5] In the wild it was typically found over a muddy bottom at depths of about 14–18 m (46–59 ft) where it fed on zooplankton and insect larvae, but captives will eat a wide range of standard aquarium fish food. [2] [5]