Trematocranus placodon

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Trematocranus placodon
Species Authority:	(Regan, 1922)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s	Kasembe, J.
Evaluator/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: Endemic to Lake Malawi. This species has suffered a significant decline in abundance, probably due to trawling, in the southern part of the lake. The population is, however, widespread throughout the rest of the lake where there is no impact of commercial trawling. The species is therefore assessed as least concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe as well as the Shire River. It has a wide distribution in both lakes and extends downstream in the Shire River as far as the Majete rapids.
Countries:	Native: Malawi; Mozambique; Tanzania, United Republic of

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Most common at around 5 m, often amongst Vallisneria beds, but also recorded down to 31 m. Feeds on small snails. Males defend large crater nests and the breeding season is from July to September. This species may be useful in controlling snails, which act as vectors for human schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Caught in seines, gill nets and trawls. Known as "Hpalochromis placodon" in the aquarium trade. Max. size: 23 cm TL.
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Most common at around 5 m, often amongst Vallisneria beds, but also recorded down to 31 m. Feeds on small snails. Males defend large crater nests and the breeding season is from July to September. This species may be useful in controlling snails, which act as vectors for human schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Caught in seines, gill nets and trawls. Known as "Hpalochromis placodon" in the aquarium trade. Max. size: 23 cm TL.

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Localised over-fishing.

Major Threat(s):

Localised over-fishing.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No information available.

Conservation Actions:

No information available.

Citation:	Kasembe, J. 2006. Trematocranus placodon. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2010.
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