Tylochromis labrodon Regan 1920

Diagnosis: lateral line with 34 or fewer scales; 17-18 gill-rakers along lower limb of first arch; inferior vertebral apophysis with characteristic spade-like outline; extremely robust lower pharyngeal jaw with flattened mill-like molariform teeth covering 2/3 of the dentigerous surface; fully ossified posttemporal latero-sensory canal; relatively short pectoral fins rarely reaching the level of the vent (Ref. 52346).Description: both juveniles and adults deep-bodied (Ref. 52346, Ref. 52307). Dorsum strongly recurved from nape to caudal peduncle, but body more or less flattened along ventrum; predorsal profile straight and steep; deepest body depth along back reaches from behind origin of dorsal fin to about fifth or sixth spine; lower jaw more or less along horizontal when mouth is closed (Ref. 52346). 3 series of scales on cheek (Ref. 52971). Lips thickened and fleshy; 2-3 hypobranchial rakers often reduced and simple, as is the last ceratobranchial raker; intervening ceratobranchial rakers overlapping and crenate; 9-10 elongate epibranchial rakers with often small crenations on the first few; 32-34 lateral line scales (Ref. 52346). 6-7 scales between first dorsal spine and upper lateral line (Ref. 52971). Upper lateral line with 24-27 scales, lower lateral line with 26-28 scales (Ref. 52971, Ref. 46852). Upper branch of lateral line ends a little anterior to soft dorsal; terminal canal bearing scales usually descends a row; ventral and dorsal lateral line branches on caudal fin well-developed and almost passing fin periphery; median branch also well developed but only extending 1/2-2/3 of fin length; dorsal fin spines increase in length to 6th-7th and are then more or less equal in length; anal fin rounded; pectoral fins very short and rarely reaching vent; first branched pelvic ray often produced and filamentous but not reaching level of soft anal; caudal fin roundly emarginate and finely scaled, usually almost to fin periphery; caudal fin densely scaled in large individuals of both sexes (Ref. 52346).Coloration: body pale gray-brown; some scales in the anterior parts of the body can have a slightly bluish-silvery flush; some dark dots present in dorsal fin; anal fin with short red-brown lines in anterior section; front of head darker than body with a dark stripe running through the eye (Ref. 52307). Well developed nape band and diffuse opercular blotch present; 7-8 vertical stripes usually present behind nape band, which tend to extend down to well below the midline; small specimens with pronounced stripes on caudal peduncle, which are faint or absent in larger fish; dorsal fin smokey grey and dotted with white maculae; anal fin with traces of white maculae on a smokey grey background (Ref. 52346). Caudal fin striped (Ref. 4910).

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 28

Benthic macrophage (Ref. 52346). Feeds on insects and their larvae, as well as on molluscs, plants and detritus (Ref. 52307).

Benthic macrophage (Ref. 52346). Feeds on insects and their larvae, as well as on molluscs, plants and detritus; maternal mouthbrooder that does not pair bond (Ref. 52307).

fisheries: