{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Stomatepia pindu - Lac Barombi Mbo - Aqua porte dorée Paris 11.JPG | status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Moelants, T. |date=2010 |title=''Stomatepia pindu'' |volume=2010 |article-number=e.T20866A9233916 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T20866A9233916.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Stomatepia pindu | authority = Trewavas, 1972<ref name = fishbase/> | synonyms = }}
The '''pindu''' ('''''Stomatepia pindu''''') is a critically endangered species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon.
==Description== The normal coloration of the pindu is solid black, lightening when breeding and even more so if stressed. Both sexes are similar in colour. The body is elongated with a pointed head and nose with a relatively large mouth. It is a relatively robust with a body depth of 30.0–37.0% of its length. The lateral line system on the head is markedly enlarged and a series of dark blotches along the sides is often marked. The maximum size for males is 9.1 cm.<ref name=fishbase>{{cite web |url=http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6331 |title=''Stomatepia pindu'' Trewavas, 1972 |access-date=2016-11-23 |publisher=fishbase.org}}</ref><ref name=cfc>{{cite web |url=http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/stomatepia_pindu_pt1.php |title=''Stomatepia pindu'' of Barombi Mbo, Cameroon |access-date=2016-11-23 |publisher=Cichlid-forum.com}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, a volcanic crater lake with a diameter of just 3 miles in western Cameroon<ref name = SF>{{cite web | url = http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/stomatepia-pindu/ | title = ''Stomatepia pindu'' | access-date = 2016-11-23 | publisher = Seriously Fish}}</ref> where only the top 40 metres contains acceptable oxygen levels to harbor vertebrate life.<ref name = cfc/>
==Habits== It is a predatory fish and reportedly is also a kleptoparasite on the freshwater crab ''Potamon africanus''.<ref name = fishbase/> The spawning of the pindu is a rather simple process, a pair of fish leave the main school to spawn directly on to the substrate. They do not construct any sort of scrape or nest and the female lays the eggs, the male to fertilises them and then the females picks them up in her mouth where they are retained for 3–4 weeks.<ref name = SF/>
==Threats== It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potentially also threatened by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos),<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" /> although studies indicate that Barombo Mbo lacks excess amounts of this gas.<ref>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}}</ref> As well as water abstraction to supply the growing town of Kumba and the introduction of non-native species.<ref name = SF/> However, at the moment, there are no introduced fish species on Lake Barombi Mbo and commercial fishing is banned.<ref name="iucn status 16 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Stomatepia pindu}} * [http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?ID=6331&what=species Photograph]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1940170}}
Category:Endemic fauna of Cameroon Category:Stomatepia Category:Cichlid fish of Africa Category:Fish described in 1972 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot