Myaka (fish)

Myaka Myaka is a species of fish family of cichlids ( Cichlidae ). It is endemic in the volcanic Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon ago. The species was named after a local name for these cichlids.

Features

Myaka Myaka has a typical cichlid shape and is about 8 inches long, making it the smallest cichlid of Barombi Mbo. The fish are gray green and have yellow ventral fins. During the mating season the males are deep blue-black. Only the golden iris contrasted then to the body color. The foot is inclined upwardly at an angle of 50 ° to the horizontal. It is staffed with two rows of teeth, the teeth of the outer are small and few in number, the inner are tricuspid. The lower Pharyngealia is clearly longer than wide, the small edentulous area is covered with an array of thin -pointed teeth. The dorsal fin of the animals is supported 14-15 spines and 10-12 soft rays. The number of spines in the anal fin is 3 and the soft rays 8 to 10, the swirl number is 28 to 29

Way of life

Myaka Myaka lives in Barombi Mbo in open water at a water depth of ten meters and below. He is a micro particle -eaters, feeding on phytoplankton, of midge larvae and detritus. Search for the fish to shallower regions to spawn. You are ovophile mouthbrooders, ie only the eggs are taken into the mouth, the young fish no more.

Endangering

The species is assessed by the IUCN as threatened with extinction ( Critically Endangered ). The threat is the increasing pollution and sedimentation of Barombi Mbo, the associated increase in oxygen depletion of deep water regions and a sudden outgassing of carbon dioxide. Fishing in the lake is prohibited.