Morphology Data of Copadichromis diplostigma
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Stauffer, J.R. and A.F. Konings, 2006
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors always different colors between mature adults
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: 2 lateral spots on body (supra-pectoral and caudal); breeding males: yellow breast and narrow yellow marginal band on anal fin (Ref. 57549).

Description: dorsal snout profile straight (females and immatures) to slightly concave (adult males); gape inclination of mouth about 40° to horizontal; jaws isognathous; teeth on dentary and premaxilla in 3-4 rows, outer row with bicuspid teeth in juveniles and females, some large unicuspid teeth in outer row of mature males; lower pharyngeal jaw thin and set with minute bicuspid teeth, posterior row with enlarged teeth, no wider teeth in the center; gill rakes small but not widened at the base; 1-2 pored scales posterior to lateral line; 2-3 scale rows on cheek: 3 rows of teeth in upper jaw, 3-4 in lower (Ref. 57549).

Coloration: breeding males: head with gray interorbital, green preorbital, blue cheek with green highlights, gray opercle with blue opercle spot, and yellow throat; lateral portion of body blue with green highlights dorsally, gray with yellow highlights ventrally; posterior portions of scales blue; yellow breast and white belly; dorsal fin blue proximally, gray distally with yellow spots, black submarginal band with white marginal band and yellow lappets; dorsal and ventral rays of caudal fin black, middle rays blue with yellow membranes; anal fin with narrow yellow marginal band, rays black with purple membranes; pectoral fin clear; pelvic fin with white leading edge and first 2 rays and membranes black, remaining rays and membranes clear (Ref. 57549).

Females: head gray with white cheek and throat; lateral portion of body gray dorsally, fading to white ventrally; posterior portion of scales blue and anterior portion pale yellow; lateral portion of body with 2 black spots; supra-pectoral spot not in contact with upper lateral line and below 8-12th scale and about 5 times diameter of caudal spot; caudal spot on caudal base; 3 vertical bars between suprapectoral spot and dorsal-fin origin; dorsal fin clear with yellow spots and yellow tips; caudal fin clear with some orange spots proximally; anal fin clear with yellow patches; first 2 membranes of pelvic fin yellow, remainder clear; pectoral fin clear (Ref. 57549).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Copadichromis diplostigma

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 33 - 35
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 13 - 19
on upper limb 5 - 8
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 16 - 17
Soft-rays total 11 - 13
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 9 - 10

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   13 - 15
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   5 - 5
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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