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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon sp. 'ngulube' Nkhata Bay<br><font color=gray>Diplotaxodon sp. 'macrops ngulube' Nkhata Bay</font>
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Geographic distribution: Lake Malawi, northern region; confirmed from Ngara and Nkhata Bay.
Typical adult size: Up to about 13 cm SL, approximately 15.5 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males develop a generally dark body with a contrasting white to yellowish upper surface of the head and body, and a similarly pale dorsal fin. Females and immature individuals are silvery and countershaded, lacking diagnostic external markings.
Special notes: Originally illustrated from material collected at Nkhata Bay and later referred to as D. sp. ‘macrops ngulube’, but the shorter name is retained because it is not closely related to Diplotaxodon macrops. Genetic analyses show no population structure between Ngara and Nkhata Bay but clear differentiation from other “bigeye” taxa. Whole-genome data from a Nkhata Bay specimen place this taxon closer to D. altus and D. sp. ‘holochromis’ than to other large-eyed species.

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Photo: © Martin Genner
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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