Shallow sandy habitats; juveniles often inhabit the intermediate zone.
Geographic distribution:
Lake Malawi; recorded mainly from shallow waters, generally not deeper than 15 m.
Typical adult size:
Up to about 15 cm total length.
Diet:
Piscivorous predator; juveniles and adults hunt small fishes, particularly in sandy and intermediate habitats.
Breeding:
Breeding has not been observed in the wild. In aquaria, ripe males become territorial and excavate spawning pits in the sand.
Special notes:
An elongate predatory species with a usually continuous diagonal stripe.
Distinguished by a prominent black lachrymal stripe, a feature shared only
with Champsocromis spilorhynchus among Malawi cichlids.
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