''Steatocranus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of small

rheophilic A rheophile is an animal that prefers to live in fast-moving water. Examples of rheophilic animals Insects *Many aquatic insects living in riffles require current to survive. *'' Epeorus sylvicola'', a rheophilic mayfly species ( Ephemeroptera ...

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 mostly native to the

Congo River Basin The Congo River, formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second-longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the third-largest river in the world list of rivers by discharge, by discharge volume, following the Amazon Ri ...

DR Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

Congo Brazzaville The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a country located on the western coast of Central ...

, although one

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the

Volta River The Volta River (, , ) is the main Drainage system (geomorphology), river system in the West African country of Ghana. It flows south into Ghana from the Bobo-Dioulasso Department, Bobo-Dioulasso highlands of Burkina Faso. The three main part ...

Ghana Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...

and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a separate genus. There are also at least 10

undescribed species In taxonomy, an undescribed taxon is a taxon (for example, a species) that has been discovered, but not yet formally described and named. The various Nomenclature Codes specify the requirements for a new taxon to be validly described and named. U ...

in the Congo River basin awaiting scientific description. The fish in this genus all have relatively reduced

swim bladder The swim bladder, gas bladder, fish maw, or air bladder is an internal gas-filled organ (anatomy), organ in bony fish that functions to modulate buoyancy, and thus allowing the fish to stay at desired water depth without having to maintain lift ...

function. The name ''Steatocranus'' refers to the fatty deposit on the forehead of most species. Steatocranus casuarius young

Two species, '' S. casuarius'' (also known as the lionhead or buffalohead cichlid) and '' S. tinanti'' are relatively common in the

aquarium An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...

trade. As for other cichlids brood care is highly developed and both sexes are involved in raising the young. All ''Steatocranus'' species are secretive cave spawners and form

monogamous Monogamy ( ) is a relationship of two individuals in which they form a mutual and exclusive intimate partnership. Having only one partner at any one time, whether for life or serial monogamy, contrasts with various forms of non-monogamy (e.g. ...

pairs for breeding. The female is more actively involved in fry raising, while the male is primarily concerned with territorial defence.

Species

There are currently eight recognized species in this genus, but ''S. irvinei'' belongs elsewhere; in 2019 it was proposed to move it to its own genus, ''Paragobiocichla''. * ''

Steatocranus bleheri ''Steatocranus bleheri'' is species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to the Kafubu River system, which is part of the Luapula drainage in the upper Congo River basin, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Description ''Steatocr ...

'' M. K. Meyer, 1993 * ''

Steatocranus casuarius ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a ...

Poll Poll, polled, or polling may refer to: Forms of voting and counting * Poll, a formal election ** Election verification exit poll, a survey taken to verify election counts ** Polling, voting to make decisions or determine opinions ** Polling pla ...

, 1939 (Lionhead cichlid) * ''

Steatocranus gibbiceps ''Steatocranus gibbiceps'' is species of cichlid native to the Malebo Pool and lower parts of the Congo River in Africa. This species can reach a length of TL. References External links ''Steatocranus gibbiceps'' Boulenger, 1899- Global Bio ...

'' Boulenger, 1899 * ''

Steatocranus glaber ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a ...

'' T. R. Roberts & D. J. Stewart, 1976 * ''

Steatocranus masalamasoso ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a ...

'' Zamba, Weiss, Mamonekene, Schliewen & Vreven, 2022 * ''

Steatocranus mpozoensis ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a ...

'' T. R. Roberts & D. J. Stewart, 1976 * ''

Steatocranus rouxi ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, '' S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, and it belongs in a ...

'' ( Pellegrin, 1928) * ''

Steatocranus tinanti ''Steatocranus'' is a genus of small rheophilic cichlids mostly native to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, ''Steatocranus irvinei, S. irvinei'', is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana and Burkino Faso, ...

'' (

, 1939) * '' Steatocranus ubanguiensis'' T. R. Roberts & D. J. Stewart, 1976

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q135247 Pseudocrenilabrinae Fishkeeping Cichlid genera Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger