Home · Cichlidae · Slender lamprologus
Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) — Cichlidae

Slender lamprologus

Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus
Family: Cichlidae
LC · Least Concern

The Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Endemic to the south of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Slender lamprologus?

Get the app

Description

Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus is a slender, predatory cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The species reaches about 15 cm and has an elongate, silvery-grey body with rows of dark spots. It lives over sandy bottoms, where it hovers just above the ground and digs large, crater-shaped nests. Its diet consists mainly of small fishes, supplemented with invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans and is not eaten, but is popular in the aquarium trade. Like many Tanganyika cichlids it is a substrate spawner that guards its clutch.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender lamprologus?

The Slender lamprologus has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern. Slender sand-dwelling cichlid that digs crater-shaped nests and hovers just above the bottom.

Where does the Slender lamprologus live?

The Slender lamprologus lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Endemic to the south of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.

How big does the Slender lamprologus get?

The Slender lamprologus grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Slender lamprologus dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender lamprologus is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Slender lamprologus edible?

The Slender lamprologus is not usually eaten.

More photos

Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) — Cichlidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) — Cichlidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) koblmuel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) — Cichlidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) animaluki, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Slender lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus) — Cichlidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) animaluki, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Slender lamprologus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Slender lamprologus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Slender lamprologus verified
Scientific name
Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked sourced
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Endemic to the south of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Slender sand-dwelling cichlid that digs crater-shaped nests and hovers just above the bottom. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lepidiolamprologus

Cunnington's lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni) — Cichlidae
Cunnington's lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus cunningtoni
Cichlidae
 Deepwater lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus profundicola) — Cichlidae
Deepwater lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus profundicola
Cichlidae
 Kendall's lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus kendalli) — Cichlidae
Kendall's lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus kendalli
Cichlidae
 Elongate lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus elongatus) — Cichlidae
Elongate lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus elongatus
Cichlidae
 Meel's lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus meeli) — Cichlidae
Meel's lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus meeli
Cichlidae
 Hecqui's lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus hecqui) — Cichlidae
Hecqui's lamprologus
Lepidiolamprologus hecqui
Cichlidae

More from the family Cichlidae

Abeele's cichlid (Limnochromis abeelei) — Cichlidae
Abeele's cichlid
Limnochromis abeelei
Cichlidae
 Adolphifrederici haplo (Haplochromis adolphifrederici) — Cichlidae
Adolphifrederici haplo
Haplochromis adolphifrederici
Cichlidae
 Red top afra (Cynotilapia afra) — Cichlidae
Red top afra
Cynotilapia afra
Cichlidae
 Danakil cichlid (Danakilia franchettii) — Cichlidae
Danakil cichlid
Danakilia franchettii
Cichlidae
 African jewelfish (Hemichromis letourneuxi) — Cichlidae
African jewelfish
Hemichromis letourneuxi
Cichlidae
 Emperor cichlid (Aulonocara nyassae) — Cichlidae
Emperor cichlid (Aulonocara nyassae)
Cichlidae
 African butterfly cichlid (Anomalochromis thomasi) — Cichlidae
African butterfly cichlid
Anomalochromis thomasi
Cichlidae
 Agassiz's dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii) — Cichlidae
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Cichlidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Slender lamprologus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Slender lamprologus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Slender lamprologus? Get the app