Steatocranus

Bumphead cichlid couple

Steatocranus ( Gr. " steatos " = fat; " kranion ," Lat. " Cranium " = skull) is a genus of African cichlids ( Cichlidae ). Type species of the genus is S. gibbiceps.

Features

The different types are eight to seventeen inches long. Its body is cylindrical and only slightly laterally flattened. Your coloring is monochromatic gray or brown. All species have a reduced swim bladder. This reduction is various degrees of seriousness. The males have a distinct frontal eminence. The long dorsal fin has 19 to 22 spines, anal fin 3 hard jets. In a medium longitudinal row on the sides of the body, one counts 30 to 34 scales. All scales are roundhouse. The mouth is dicklippig. The teeth in the upper and lower jaw are in multiple rows in the outermost row bicuspid, big teeth, the inner rows small conical or dreispitzige teeth.

Dissemination

The species of the genus inhabiting two African river systems, the river system of the Congo and the river system of the Volta ( only S. irvinei ). All species are ground-dwelling, flow- loving ( rheophile ) fish which inhabit rapids and strong currents sections of the rivers.

Reproduction

Steatocranus species are cavity nesters, which form a father-mother family. There are 40 to 120 whitish-gray to reddish-brown oval eggs are laid. The fry hatch after 4-6 days and left after 12 to 15 days for the first time the breeding cave.

Species

• Steatocranus bleheri - Meyer, 1993
• Bumphead cichlid ( Steatocranus casuarius ) - Poll, 1939
• Steatocranus gibbiceps - Boulenger, 1899
• Steatocranus glaber - Roberts & Stewart, 1976
• Steatocranus irvinei - ( Trewavas, 1943)
• Steatocranus mpozoensis - Roberts & Stewart, 1976
• Steatocranus Rouxi - ( Pellegrin, 1928)
• Steatocranus tinanti - (Poll, 1939)
• Steatocranus ubanguiensis Roberts & Stewart, 1976
• Steatocranus sp. " Roach " undescribed

Some species are kept as aquarium fish. The most popular of these types is the hump head cichlid S. casuarius.