Spotfin goby cichlid
Tanganicodus irsacae
Tanganicodus irsacae is an endemic living on the coasts of the East African Lake Tanganyika cichlid. The genus was named after the area of distribution, the scientific epithet refers to a Belgian research institute ( Institut pour la recherche scientifique en Afrique centrale).
Features
Tanganicodus irsacae is 7 cm long, females stay smaller. The body is elongated, laterally flattened slightly and only slightly high. The head is pointed, the muzzle at all times. Each jaw with long, red at the top teeth filled ( " Pinzettgebiss "). The extended pectoral fins are suitable for support on the ground. The dorsal fin is long and pointed at the end of soft-rayed. Also, abdominal and anal fins are tapered. The swim bladder is short. Tanganicodus irsacae is olive green to beige - brownish color. The body sides are provided with 7-8 vertical bright stripes, which pass into the upper half of the fuselage in light blue spots. Also, the head and the dorsal fin is patterned with bright blue to greenish spots. The head underside is whitish. The dorsal fin and the caudal fin are orange top is lined, the other fins are usually brownish and dark lined.
- Fins formula: Dorsal XXIII-XXIV/4-5, Anal III / 7
- Dandruff formula MLR 30-32, SL 22-24/69-10
Way of life
Tanganicodus irsacae lives close to the ground, close to the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and moves in a jerky, " bouncing " swimming behavior continues. At rest it is based, as well as other representatives of the Grundelbuntbarsche ( Eretmodini ), on the ground with the pectoral fins from. It feeds on small organisms, especially crustaceans and insect larvae, which he can pick off the floor and out of the nursery algae of the rocks with its long front teeth. The cichlids are monogamous and spawn on a flat rock surface or sandy soil. Subsequently, more than 20 eggs are taken by the female for about 12 to 14 days into the mouth. Then the mouth brood care is transferred to the male that carries the eggs around for another 7 to 10 days in the mouth with it. Are the fry hatched, they are released from the mouth, looked into pits in the seabed and not resumed the mouth.