Coptodon bythobates (Stiassny, Schliewen & Dominey 1992)

Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal jaw slender and gracile, with a reduced dentigerous plate; gill filaments of first arch short (ca. 10% of head length); 13-16 fleshy gill rakers on first arch; anterior gill rakers not markedly reduced in size (Ref. 81260).Description: body moderately slender (Ref. 52307). Head relatively large, not massive (Ref. 52307), its length 35.6-42.3% SL (Ref. 81260). Lower pharyngeal jaw with weakly bicuspid, curved anterior teeth and straight bicuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel shorter than dentigerous plate; 2-3 rows of teeth in upper jaw, outer row teeth usually bicuspid, but occasionally unicuspid (Ref. 81260).Coloration: reddish bronze, darkest dorsally on flanks; snout, cheek and opercle blood-red; upper lip black, lower lip brilliant white (Ref. 52307, 81260). Belly reddish bronze; slight whitish tinge to fleshy base of pectoral fin; well marked black opercular spot; dorsal fin dusky-black with reddish hue over soft ray membrane; caudal fin red proximally, with black distal border and lower lobe; anal fin red proximally, with black distal border; pelvics black; pectoral fins reddish (Ref. 81260).

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 9

Prefers to live at depths greater than 8 m; seems to have adapted to greater depths and reduced dissolved oxygen levels; feeds mainly upon vegetative materials (higher plants and algae (Ref. 52307). Probably a pair-bonding, open (Ref. 52307) substrate brooder/spawner (Ref. 52307, 81260), with both parents guarding the brood (Ref. 52307).

fisheries:

Coptodon bythobates 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.