Ctenochromis horei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ctenochromis horei |
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Ctenochromis horei is a type of fish called a cichlid. It lives in East Africa.
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What Does Ctenochromis horei Look Like?
These fish can grow to different sizes. The male Ctenochromis horei can be about 18–20 centimetres (7.1–7.9 in) (7 to 8 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, usually around 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) (5 to 6 inches) long.
Bigger fish, especially those longer than 60 millimetres (2.4 in) (about 2.4 inches), have black spots on their heads. When male fish are looking for food, they show off a bright orange spot on their bottom fin. This is a special dance they do to attract females!
Where Does Ctenochromis horei Live?
You can find Ctenochromis horei in the area around Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. This lake is shared by several countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia.
These fish live in Lake Tanganyika itself. They also live in rivers that flow into the lake, like the Ruzizi River and the Nua River. You can even find them in the Lukuga River, which flows out of the lake.
How Do They Live?
Ctenochromis horei fish are found almost everywhere in the Lake Tanganyika area. They live both where there are rocks and where there is sand. However, they really like places with soft sand where water plants and grasses grow.
These fish prefer shallow waters along the edge of the lake and in the lower parts of rivers. They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. But when they grow up, they mostly eat other fish.
Family Life
Female Ctenochromis horei are mouthbrooders. This means they keep their eggs and even their baby fish (called fry) safe inside their mouths!
Stronger male fish will protect a female when she is laying eggs from other males nearby. These dominant males might have a group of females they mate with. But other males will try to sneak in and mate with the females whenever they get a chance!
What Threats Does Ctenochromis horei Face?
Ctenochromis horei faces some challenges in its home. The water in shallow areas can become cloudy and muddy. This happens because of farming and logging activities around the Lake Tanganyika drainage basin.
These fish are also sometimes caught too much by people using large fishing nets called beach seine nets.
Why Is It Called Ctenochromis horei?
The second part of the fish's name, horei, is a tribute to a British explorer and missionary named Captain Edward Coode Hore (1848-1912). He was the person who first collected this type of fish for scientists to study.
