malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Diplotaxodon aeneus
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: From a midwater trawling over a lake bed depth of 400 m, offshore northeast of Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Deep-water habitats, reported from about 25–160 m depth.
Geographic distribution: Recorded from Chilumba Harbour, Nkhata Bay, and Domira Bay on the western coast of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Up to about 14 cm standard length, approximately 17 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Mature males are described as uniformly dark with a distinct coppery sheen and completely lacking a white margin on the dorsal fin.
Diet: Assigned to the Diplotaxodon macrops group, described as generally specialized for feeding on plankton. Morphological features noted include an upwardly angled mouth, a prominent premaxillary pedicel, and two rows of simple jaw teeth.
Breeding: A maternal mouthbrooder.
Special notes: The type series comprises six specimens (one holotype and five paratypes) collected offshore northeast of Nkhata Bay. The species is described as deep-bodied with large eyes, a large mouth, and a prominent premaxillary pedicel, and is reported to reach about 140 mm standard length.

Photo gallery

Photo: © George Turner
Photo: © George Turner
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© malawi.si