Description of the morphologic, anatomic and key characteristics of the Convict Cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Babak Moghaddasi ^{1 *} , Mahfam Cezawar Ardebily ² , Dorsa Heidarifar ³

1 - Department of Natural Resources, Savadkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-03-02 Accepted : 2025-04-13 Published : 2025-07-02

Keywords: Convict cichlid, Morphology, Anatomy, Identification key, Amatitlania nigrofasciata.,

Abstract :

The morphological characteristics and certain anatomical features of the convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) were examined to describe the species and provide an identification key as a beautiful ornamental fish and a model organism in biological research. Based on standard ichthyological methods Key traits of 50 adult convict cichlids were analyzed. External traits, meristic features and morphometric characteristics were observed, counted, and measured. The results revealed that this species has a fusiform, laterally compressed body with a broad and muscular caudal peduncle. Of young adult individuals, the total length was 7.67 ± 0.75 cm. Males were larger (total length up to 10 cm or more), with sharper and longer dorsal and anal fin tips, thicker lips, narrower flanks, and a more pointed urogenital papilla. In mature males, a prominent nuchal hump was observed on the forehead. The maximum total length recorded reached up to 14 cm in older males. The body color was bluish-gray with black vertical stripes, ventral region of mature females was orange to reddish-copper hue. Mouth terminal, gape horizontal, lips thick, upper and lower jaw lengths were equal. Numerous sensory pores on the head, forehead, snout, and lower jaw. Lateral line was divided into two parts, 16–21 scales on the first section and 7–12 scales on the second. Dorsal fin had 13–18 spines and 8–10 soft rays, pectoral fins had 1 spine and 10–12 soft rays, pelvic fins had 1 or 2 spines and 4 or 5 soft rays, anal fin had 8–10 spines and 6–10 soft rays, and the caudal fin was homocercal, large, rounded, and contained had 13–18 soft rays. Gill rakers were 6 to 8 and vertebrae 26 across all the specimens.

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