''Callochromis'' is a genus of

cichlid Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this ...

s native to shallow, sandy bottom areas of

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East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

. 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 located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...

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

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

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 surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s is the most elongated and the

caudal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

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 epithelial ...

s. They grow to a tital length 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 (1858–1 ...

, 1898) * '' Callochromis melanostigma'' (

, 1906) * '' Callochromis pleurospilus'' (

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

junior synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...

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

References

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