Coptodon imbriferna (Stiassny, Schliewen & Dominey 1992)

Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal jaw slender and gracile, with a reduced dentigerous plate; gill filaments of first arch long (ca. 20% HL); 10-12 gill rakers on first arch; anterior rakers markedly reduced in size (Ref. 81260).Description: head length 38.1-44.6% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with unicuspid, curved anterior teeth and straight tricuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel relatively long, nearly as long as dentigerous plate; 2-4 rows of teeth in upper jaw, outer row teeth bicuspid (Ref. 81260). Head very massive; relatively deep-bodied; frontal profile steep; both sexes may develop a small hump on head (Ref. 52307).Coloration: in life: silvery grey-brown, darker dorsally (Ref. 81260) when not spawning (Ref. 52307). Snout and dorsum of head dark brownish black; lower lip, chin and belly pale creamy-brown; opercle reddish bronze, and reddish tinge to fleshy pectoral base; well marked opercular spot (Ref. 81260). Dorsal fin uniform dusky, grey-brown; caudal fin blackish brown with dusky green posterior margin; anal fin dusky grey-black (Ref. 52307, 81260). Pelvics and pectoral fins transparent (Ref. 81260). Exhibits a bright yellow to bronze coloration, with lower lip silvery-white, when breeding or dominant (Ref. 52307).

Dorsal spines (total): 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Prefers a herbivorous diet, especially phytoplankton which might be taken from the water column and not from the substrate; primarily found near the lake shore, forming stable pairs and preferring to spawn on sunken wood or on stones (Ref. 52307). Substrate brooder (Ref. 81260). Both parents guard their brood (Ref. 52307).

fisheries:

Coptodon imbriferna is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Bermin in Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Bermin is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.