''Callochromis'' is a genus of

cichlid Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with on ...

s native to shallow, sandy bottom areas of

Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika ( ; ) is an African Great Lakes, African Great Lake. It is the world's List of lakes by volume, second-largest freshwater lake by volume and the List of lakes by depth, second deepest, in both cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia. ...

East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

. As sandsifters, all species eat sand-dwelling invertebrates. Unlike many other sandsifters, ''Callochromis'' species are somewhat aggressive, especially when breeding. ''C. pleurospilus'' has become popular with fishkeeping hobbyists because of their compact size, iridescent colors, and hardiness.

Characteristics

The fishes in the genus ''Callochromis'' have a more or less elongated body which is approximately three times as long as it is high. They have a curved or humped back and a flat underside with a small terminal or sub-terminal mouth with a protruding lower jaw, the jaws are equipped with 3-5 rows of conical teeth. The

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates. Dorsal fins have evolved independently several times through convergent evolution adapting to marine environments, so the fins are not all homologous. They are found ...

has 12-16 spines and 10-14 rays, the

anal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported o ...

has 3 spines and 6-9 rays. The outer ray of the

ventral fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral (belly) surface of fish, and are the lower of the only two sets of paired fins (the other being the laterally positioned pectoral fins). The pelvic fins are homologous to the hind ...

s is the most elongated and the

caudal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported only ...

has pointed lobes. They have two

lateral line The lateral line, also called the lateral line organ (LLO), is a system of sensory organs found in fish, used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water. The sensory ability is achieved via modified epithelia ...

s. They grow to a

total length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies, for data used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fishery biology. Overall length Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish measured f ...

of .

Species

There are currently three recognized species in this genus: * '' Callochromis macrops'' (

Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858– ...

, 1898) * '' Callochromis melanostigma'' (

, 1906) * '' Callochromis pleurospilus'' (

, 1906) A fourth species, ''Callochromis stappersi'', which has been regarded as a

junior synonym In taxonomy, the scientific classification of living organisms, a synonym is an alternative scientific name for the accepted scientific name of a taxon. The botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. ...

of ''C. pleurospilus'' may be a valid species.

References

Ectodini Cichlid genera Taxa named by Charles Tate Regan {{Pseudocrenilabrinae-stub