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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon sp. 'brevimaxillaris'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Biotope: 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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Photo: © George Turner
Photo: © George Turner
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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