malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Mylochromis melanotaenia.jpg Mylochromis melanotaenia 'Makonde'.jpg
Next pageMylochromis melanotaenia (unknown locality)
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.

Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Serge Ricart
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
Photo: © Yann Dupuy
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© malawi.si