Coptodon flava (Stiassny, Schliewen & Dominey 1992)

Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal jaw robust, with a large, non-heart-shaped, dentigerous plate, covered with stout, sparsely arrayed teeth; oral dentition fine; outer row teeth obliquely truncate; anterior gill rakers markedly reduced in size (Ref. 81260).Description: head length 35.1-40.0% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with curved tricuspid anterior teeth and straight posterior teeth; ventral keel shorter than dentigerous plate; outer row teeth in oral jaws bicuspid (Ref. 81260).Coloration: base body color yellow or pale yellowish green (Ref. 52307, 81260). Snout, cheek and opercle bright lemon yellow; lower lip white with blue-green iridescence on chin; dorsal fin pale yellow with brighter yellow dorsal margin; caudal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins pale dusky yellow (Ref. 81260). A few pale, whitish individuals, lacking striking yellow coloration, occur in the lake (Ref. 52307, 81260).

Dorsal spines (total): 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Feeds primarily on phytoplankton, but also accepts higher plants and sponges (Ref. 52307). Pair-bonding, open (Ref. 52307) substrate brooder/spawner (Ref. 52307, 81260), with both parents guarding the brood (Ref. 52307). Prefers to spawn at depths of 1-2 m; eggs are normally deposited on sunken pieces of wood; occasionally, colonies consisting of about 10 pairs have been found, with pairs separated from each other by about 30 cm; pairs defending juveniles collectively have been observed, which might be an indication of cooperative broodcare (Ref. 52307).

fisheries:

Coptodon flava is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Bermin in Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Bermin is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.