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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon sp. 'limnothrissa msaka' Msaka
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Geographic distribution: Lake Malawi, recorded exclusively from Msaka in the South West Arm, based on specimens collected in June 2005.
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males show a dark grey to black body including pelvic and anal fins, contrasted by white on the upper surface of the head, the dorsolateral region surrounding the dorsal fin, much of the dorsal fin, and the upper leading edge of the caudal fin. Females and immature individuals cannot be diagnosed externally.
Breeding: Polygynandrous; maternal mouthbrooder.
Special notes: Assigned to the slender-bodied D. limnothrissa group and morphologically very similar to Diplotaxodon limnothrissa. Known from a single collection at Msaka, and no detailed morphometric or population genetic comparisons have been published. It has been suggested that the distinctive male phenotype may represent a developmental stage of breeding dress of another member of the limnothrissa complex. No full genome sequence data are currently available, and the taxonomic status of this form remains unresolved.

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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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