Pelvicachromis pulcher

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Pelvicachromis pulcher
Top: Female P. pulcher
bottom: Male P. pulcher

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Pelvicachromis
Species:
P. pulcher
Binomial name
Pelvicachromis pulcher
(Boulenger, 1901)
Synonyms
  • Pelmatochromis pulcher Boulenger, 1901
  • Pelmatochromis aurocephalus Meinken, 1960
  • Pelmatochromis camerunensis Thys van den Audenaerde, 1968

Pelvicachromis pulcher is a

kribensis, although it has other common names, including various derivatives and color morphs of the kribensis: krib, common krib, red krib, super-red krib and rainbow krib, along with rainbow cichlid and purple cichlid.[2][5]

Description

The pair, more colorful female in the front

In the wild, male P. pulcher grow to a maximum length of approximately 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) and a maximum weight of 9.5 grams (0.34 oz). Females are smaller and deeper bodied, growing to a maximum length of 8.1 cm (3.2 in) and a maximum weight of 9.4 g (0.33 oz).

ocelli. Males show colour polymorphisms in some populations collected at single localities.[7] Juveniles are monomorphic until approximately six months of age.[8]

Distribution, habitat and predators

Pelvicachromis pulcher is native to southern Nigeria and to coastal areas of Cameroon, where it occurs in warm (24–26 °C or 75–79 °F), acidic to neutral (pH 5.6–6.2), soft water (12–22 mg L−1 CaCO3).[3][6] Populations of P. pulcher also occur outside its natural range in Hawaii, USA as a by-product of the ornamental fish trade.[9]

The species inhabits both slow and fast-moving water, though it is only found where patches of dense vegetation are available.

Brycinus longipinnis and Aphyosemion species.[3] The species is prey for a number of rheophilic predators including Hepsetus odoe, Hydrocynus forskahlii, and Lates niloticus (Nile perch).[6] In the natural habitat, P. pulcher have been observed excavating, defending, and sheltering in caves dug underneath plants, and these holes are also used for breeding.[8] Not all P. pulcher, however, claim territories and many live in large, non-reproductive aggregates.[8][10]

Diet

Despite the suggestion in some aquarium literature that the species feeds on

blue-green algae. Invertebrates
, though consumed, were found to be relatively uncommon food items for wild fish.

Sexual dimorphism and reproduction

Larval P. pulcher

Like other Pelvicachromis species, P. pulcher is sexually dimorphic. Males have pointed pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins, while the female's pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins are more rounded in appearance. In addition, males are larger, lack the gold sheen to the dorsal fin and have a more elongated, spade-shaped caudal fin.

conspecifics in aquarium trials, and it has been suggested this may be an adaption to reduce predation on their own fry.[13] Male colour polymorphism may be indicative of behavioural differences. For example, red males obtained from a single site were found to be more aggressive and more polygamous than yellow males obtained from the same site.[8] In addition, the species has been demonstrated to engage in cooperative territorial defence where multiple males defend a single territory.[8]

Taxonomy

Pelvicachromis pulcher was originally described as Pelmatochromis pulcher by George Boulenger in 1901. Subsequently, a number of junior synonyms (Pelmatochromis aureocephalus, Pelmatochromis camerunensis) and misidentifications (Pelmatochromis kribensis, Pelmatochromis subocellatus var. kribensis and Pelmatochromis pulcher var. kribensis) were brought into use. Some of these synonyms are still in use by aquarium hobbyists which complicates identification of this species.[2][3] Many of the common and trade names used for this species, such as kribensis, krib, rainbow krib are derived from the erroneous binomial, Pelmatochromis kribensis.
The genus Pelmatochromis was revised by Thys van den Audenaerde in 1968 [14] when the genus Pelvicachromis was erected with P. pulcher designated as the type species.[15]

The etymology of this species is as follows:

  • Pelvicachromis: Latin, pelvica = pelvic or belly + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch
  • Pulcher: Latin, pretty or beautiful

In the aquarium

A female P. pulcher displaying her full, vivid breeding colouration. Note the dark black around the magenta-coloured stomach

Pelvicachromis pulcher is a popular cichlid for the aquarium.[4]

Selective breeding

An albino form of the species has been developed for the aquarium trade. Unlike normal

incompletely dominant. Like many albino animals red and yellow pigments are retained, however, albino P. pulcher also show patches of melanin in the dorsal and caudal fin around the ocelli.[16] Langhammer (1982) reports that matings from these albino forms with red and yellow pigments produce 25% wild coloured offspring and 75% albino fry. The albino fry were themselves divided into completely amelanistic forms, and forms which retained colouration of their parents.[16]

See also

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T182905A58332967.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^
    University of Kiel
    . Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1-56465-166-2
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-56465-146-4
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-3-88244-050-8
    .
  6. ^
    S2CID 20637138
    .
  7. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1965.tb05202.x
    .
  8. ^
    S2CID 27852520
    .
  9. ^ M. N. Yamamoto (1992). Occurrence, distribution and abundance of accidentally introduced freshwater aquatic organisms in Hawaii. Freshwater Fisheries Research and Surveys, Project No. F-14-R-16. State of Hawaii, Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration, Dingell-Johnson JOR.
  10. ^ S. Sjölander (1972). "Feldbeobachtungen an einigen westafrikanischen Cichliden" [Field observations on some West African cichlids]. Aquarien Terrarien. Monatsschrift für Ornithologie und Vivarienkunde (in German). 19: 42–45.
  11. ISBN 978-3-923880-89-8
    .
  12. JSTOR 1444818
    .
  13. S2CID 31835862
    .
  14. ^ Robert J. Goldstein (1970). Cichlids. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications. p. 59.
  15. ISBN 978-3-928819-33-6
    .
  16. ^ a b c James K. Langhammer (1982). "Albinism in Pelvicachromis pulcher". Buntbarsche Bulletin. 93.

External links

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