Purpleface Largemouth

Description: deep-bodied; frontal profile moderately steep with a straight to slightly curved outline; head and eyes large; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 52307).Coloration: head and body olive brown to olive-green, with front and dorsal areas darker; juveniles and females with 7 dark, olive-brown vertical bars on body and 1 dark horizontal band mid-body; males more intensely colored, often with dark-centered body scales and pale dots in soft dorsal, and always with some rosy to rusty-red egg spots in anal fin; caudal fin olive with a red outer margin; dorsal fin also outlined in red; when courting, males with a purple to reddish-brown coloration on cheeks and opercles that may extend to anterior body parts (Ref. 52307).

A mouth brooding species.

Frequency of occurence in Caprivi: frequently in sandy streams, occasionally on rocky streams, abundant in standing deep water, frequently in shallow swamps (Ref. 037065).

Common in a broad range of habitats from mainstream margins to floodplain channels and lagoons; preys on insects and small fish, including mormyrids and barbs, which are taken near the bottom; breeds in spring and early summer at low water before the annual floods arrive; relatively few eggs are laid and mouthbrooded; matures after 1-2 years (Ref. 7248). Agamous, maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 52307). Also caught with drawnets.

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes