Tilapia baloni Trewavas & Stewart, 1975

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  17.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: rivers Luongo (middle Luapula tributary)(Ref. 27609, 52307, 82564, 92878) and Kalungwishi (Lake Mweru tributary)(Ref. 92878) in the upper Congo River basin in Zambia.
Diagnosis:  Description: body ovoid and moderately deep; caudal peduncle relatively long; caudal fin round to truncate (Ref. 52307). Coloration: based on freshly caught but dead specimens: snout, front of head and back dark blue-gray to nearly black in adult males; flanks greenish with 9-10 vertical bars; scales on lower parts of flanks and caudal peduncle with a dark spot at their base; in large males, portions of opercles and flanks directly behind, as well parts of breast, purple; dorsal fin dusky, but in males soft section whitish to rosy with some dark spots (sometimes dusky in females); anal, pelvic and caudal fins dusky, the latter with dark stripes between its rays (Ref. 52307).
Biology:  Probably pair-bonding, open substratum spawner, with both parents guarding their brood (Ref. 52307).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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