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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Mylochromis melanotaenia.jpg Mylochromis melanotaenia 'Makonde'.jpg
Previous pageMylochromis melanotaenia 'Makonde'
Genus: Mylochromis
Type locality: Domira Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Muddy bottoms near river outlets at depths of 15–40 m.
Geographic distribution: Recorded from the southern part of Lake Malawi, the eastern shoreline, and Makonde in the northern section; although rare, apparently distributed around much of the lake.
Typical adult size: Up to 18 cm total length
Diet: Likely feeds on snails and other hard-shelled invertebrates. The stout pharyngeal teeth and thick lips suggest extraction of snails from their shells.
Breeding: Breeding males are mainly steel blue with a yellowish tail. They appear not to be territorial.
Special notes: Distinguished (together with M. balteatus) by its large mouth with thick lips in which the teeth are embedded, stout subconical pharyngeal teeth, and relatively large eye. Differs from M. balteatus in the higher position of the diagonal band, which does not cross the upper lateral line below the spiny dorsal fin.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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