Crenicichla mandelburgeri Kullander 2009

Similar to C. mucuryna (Brazil) and C. niederleinii (Paraná River) by the presence in young specimens of numerous narrow vertical bars along the side and which are replaced in adults by an irregular dark horizontal band. This species is distinguished by having a low number of scales in a lateral row 44-56 (vs. 57-63 in C. mucuryna and 56-65 in C. niederleinii. Differs from C. jaguarensis (Paraná River) by the presence of numerous narrow vertical bars in young specimens, lateral band in adults 2-3 scales wide and running close to upper lateral line vs. 1-1½ scales wide and distinctly separated from upper lateral line; its suborbital stripe usually short and narrow and individual spots making up the stripe recognizable vs. stripe wide, long and almost uniformly pigmented. Differs from C. jupiaensis (upper Paraná River) by lower jaw prognathous, vs. jaws isognathous; preopercular margin serrated vs. smooth; by colour pattern; C. jupiaensis not developing a lateral band. Differs from C. haroldoi (upper Paraná River) by caudal blotch present and distinct, vs. absent or indistinct; preopercle serrated vs. not serrated; black dots marking lateral line scales absent vs. present. Differs from C. yaha (Urugua-í basin) and C. iguassuensis (Iguazú basin), by the dark lateral band along the side vs. a row of dark blotches along the middle of the side. Differs from coastal species C. maculata, C. punctata, C. lacustris, C. tingui, and C. iguapina by larger scales in the E1 row, 44-56 vs. 56-75 (Ref. 80386).

Dorsal spines (total): 20 - 23; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 35 - 37

Collected with electrofishing from rapids in a large stream, 5-10 m wide, to 1 m deep; water turbid and brownish; rocks came from road building; slope of rapids was about 10°. Associated fauna include Crenicichla lepidota (Cichlidae), Ancistrus sp. and Rineloricaria sp. (Loricariidae), Bryconamericus sp. (Characidae), Heptapterus mustelinus and Rhamdia quelen(Heptapteridae). All other collection sites were small, shallow brown-water streams up to about 3 m wide; varying velocity and transparency; bottom of sand and stones; and, generally absent vegetation, mostly sampled in unfavorable high water conditions in the month of February. Associated species here were generally typical forest stream species such as species of Astyanax and Bryconamericus, H. mustelinus, Rineloricaria sp., Rhamdia quelen, Oligosarcus paranensis (Characidae), Apareiodon sp., C. lepidota, and Gymnogeophagus cf. caaguazuensis (Cichlidae) (Ref. 80386).

Crenicichla mandelburgeri is a species of cichlid native to South America. It is found in the río Paraná basin. This species reaches a length of 20.8 cm (8.2 in).

The fish is named in honor of Paraguayan ichthyologist Darío Mandelburger, the co-coordinator of Proyecto Vertebrados del Paraguay (1992-1999).