Heterochromis (original) (raw)

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Genus of fishes

Heterochromis
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: HeterochromidinaeKullander, 1998
Genus: HeterochromisRegan, 1922
Species: H. multidens
Binomial name
Heterochromis multidens(Pellegrin, 1900)

Heterochromis is a genus of cichlid fish in the order Perciformes. It is the only genus of the subfamily Heterochromidinae, and contains a single species, Heterochromis multidens, which is endemic to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa. The relationships of Heterochromis to other cichlids have long been controversial, with several morphological features suggesting that it is more closely related to American cichlids than to other African species.[2] Molecular studies have given contradictory results. The most comprehensive analysis done to date found more support for relationship to African cichlids, but could not conclusively reject a relationship to the American clade.[3]

It can reach a total length of 29.5 cm (11.6 in). This species is probably a substrate spawner and in older males a hump may develop on the head.[4]

  1. ^ Moelants, T. (2010). "Heterochromis multidens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T181935A7767720. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T181935A7767720.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Kullander SO (1998) A phylogeny and classification of the South American Cichlidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). Pp. 461-498 in Malabarba, L., et al. (eds), Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes, Porto Alegre.
  3. ^ Keck, Benjamin P.; Hulsey, C. Darrin (2014). "Continental monophyly of cichlid fishes and the phylogenetic position of Heterochromis multidens". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 73: 53–59. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.011. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 24472673.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Heterochromis multidens". FishBase. February 2013 version.