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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon limnothrissa 'Cape Maclear'.jpg Diplotaxodon limnothrissa 'Monkey Bay'.jpg Diplotaxodon limnothrissa 'Nkhata Bay'.jpg
Previous pageDiplotaxodon limnothrissa 'Nkhata Bay'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: Just northeast of Boadzulu Island, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Open deep-water habitats, typically never shallower than 20 m and recorded to depths exceeding 120 m. The species inhabits the free water column and does not enter shallow areas.
Geographic distribution: Lake-wide distribution throughout Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Up to about 18 cm total length; the largest individuals are usually females.
Sexual dimorphism: No clear difference in adult size between males and females has been established, although the largest specimens are typically females.
Feeding: Primarily a zooplanktivore feeding on copepods; juveniles also consume chaoborid larvae. Remains of Engraulicypris sardella have been found in stomach contents, indicating occasional piscivory.
Breeding: A free-water spawning maternal mouthbrooder. Ripe males and spent females occur year-round at various depths. Small juveniles of about 3 cm have been found inside the mouths of females, suggesting post-release care.
Aquarium setup: Occasionally introduced to the hobby from juveniles taken from mouthbrooding females, but little is known about its long-term behaviour in captivity.
Special notes: A small, elongate species lacking body spots or stripes. It differs from congeners by its smaller head, shallow body and higher lateral line scale count (36–39). Distinguished from Rhamphochromis by its small mouth, closely set teeth and absence of beak-like premaxillaries. It is the most abundant haplochromine cichlid in the southeastern arm of the lake and forms an important component of the open-water fish biomass.

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Photo: © Hannes Svardal
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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