Xenochromis

Xenochromis hecqui is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is mainly found at depths of, but has been recorded somewhat deeper, even in waters virtually devoid of oxygen. This species is a scale eater, consuming the scales off of other fishes, but will also feed on copepods. It can reach a total length of up to. Currently it is the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours the Belgian Lieutenant Célestin Hecq, a member of the Belgian colonial forces fighting the slave trade who collected the type of this species.