Coptodon fusiforme

Coptodon fusiforme
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cichliformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Genus:	Coptodon
Species:	C. fusiforme
Binomial name
Coptodon fusiforme (Dunz & Schliewen, 2010)
Synonyms
Tilapia fusiforme Dunz & Schliewen, 2010

Coptodon fusiforme is a species of fish in the cichlid family, endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It was only scientifically described in 2010, so has not been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the critically endangered C. deckerti, which is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, a catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis that has been introduced to the lake, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),^[1][2] although Ejagham is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas.^[3]

It reaches up to 8 cm (3 in) in length, and mainly feeds on plankton in open water, but also takes small particles from the bottom and the water's surface.^[4]

References

1. Moelants, T. (2010). "Tilapia deckerti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T21897A9337295. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T21897A9337295.en. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
2. Dunz, A. R., & Schliewen, U. K. (2010). Description of a Tilapia (Coptodon) species flock of Lake Ejagham (Cameroon), including a redescription of Tilapia deckerti Thys van den Audenaerde, 1967. Spixiana, 33(2): 251-280
3. Freeth, S.J.; C.O. Ofoegbu; and K.M. Onuoha (1992). Natural Hazards in West and Central Africa, pp. 50—51. ISBN 978-3-663-05239-5
4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Coptodon fusiforme". FishBase. April 2017 version.