Tylochromis praecox Stiassny 1989

Diagnosis: upper lateral line extending full length of dorsal fin base and descending a row before proceeding the length of 3 or more scales; 15 gill-rakers along lower limb of first arch; 35-37 lateral line scales; relatively large headed and deep bodied; pectoral fin long, usually extending to level of spinous anal fin (Ref. 52346).Description: moderately deep-bodied (Ref. 52307, 52346). Head profile steep, but somewhat flattened above the eyes (Ref. 52307). Strong dorsal body curvature and ventral flattening; predorsal profile rises steeply over snout, usually interrupted by slight thickening of interobital region, then continues rising smoothly to dorsal fin origin; deepest body depth along back at origin of dorsal fin; mouth more or less along horizontal when closed; lower pharyngeal jaw weakly developed; lips moderately fleshy and thickened; inferior vertebral apophysis of standard Tylochromis type, with minor contribution of 4th vertebra forming a buttress for 3th vertebral process; gill-rakers along lower limb of first arch stout, crenate and well spaced; first few hypobranchial rakers often simple and somewhat elongate; epibranchial rakers relatively broad; 35-37 lateral line scales; upper lateral line extensive, extending full length of dorsal fin base and descending a row before proceeding length of 3 or more scales; terminal canal bearing scales descend a scale row and canal continues for 3-4 scales; dorsal, ventral and median lateral line branches on caudal fin well developed, extending to fin periphery; caudal fin very densely scaled to fin periphery; dorsal fin spines increase in length to 5th and then are more or less equal in length; anal fin rounded; pectoral fin moderately long, usually extending to level of spinous anal fin; first branched pelvic ray produced and filamentous, reaching beyond level of spinous anal fin in some individuals; caudal fin broad and roundly emarginate (Ref. 52346). Coloration: body and lips silvery; head, cheeks and opercula of adults more golden; body often with horizontal yellowish lines; larger specimens (males?) with black spots on the soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins (Ref. 52307). Preserved specimens: body uniform light brown; upper lip black and ethmoid region dark dusky grey in male specimens; nape band is very strongly pigmented, short, broad and not extending down to the diffuse opercular blotch; lower lip, upper lip membranes and branchiostegal membranes white; no traces of any vertical bands behind the nape band; dorsal fin smokey grey with rows of numerous pale maculae; caudal stripes fine and numerous; preserved females exhibit similar, but muted, body and dorsal fin markings; faint traces of vertical stripes only present in the smallest individuals (Ref. 52346).

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Analsoft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 28

Omnivorous, prefers small organic particles, regardless whether they are plants or small insects (Ref. 52307). Opportunistic bentic microphage; female carries the eggs; probably tolerant of relatively high salinity levels (Ref. 52346).

Omnivorous, prefers small organic particles, regardless whether they are plants or small insects (Ref. 52307). Opportunistic bentic microphage; probably tolerant of relatively high salinity levels (Ref. 52346). Maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 52307, 52346) that does not pair bond (Ref. 52307).

fisheries: