Deep-water offshore habitat, most often taken by trawl at about 75–100 m
depth over a mud substrate.
Geographic distribution:
Offshore Lake Malawi, with records concentrated in the southern basin,
especially the South East Arm near Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear.
Typical adult size:
At least 19 cm SL (about 23 cm total length).
Sexual dimorphism:
Females and non-reproductive individuals are silvery and countershaded
without distinct flank markings. Reproductively active males have very dark
dorsal and caudal fins with a contrasting pale underside, and a single large
eggspot on the anal fin.
Diet:
Morphology is consistent with a paedophagous feeding specialization, with
short jaws, an extremely upwardly angled gape, small erect teeth, and a
bullate premaxilla.
Breeding:
Maternal mouthbrooder with a polygynandrous mating system.
Special notes:
Distinguished from D.greenwoodi by a larger eye, a broader
head, and a less prognathous lower jaw. Male colours are poorly documented,
but available material indicates a single large anal-fin eggspot and a pale
underside contrasting with dark dorsal and caudal fins.
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