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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Otopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus goldhead' Minos Reef.jpg Otopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus goldhead' Nkolongwe.jpg
Next pageOtopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus goldhead' Minos Reef
Genus: Otopharynx
Biotope: Intermediate habitat; feeds from sediment on rocks and from sandy substrates at depths between 10–20 m.
Geographic distribution: Recorded from Nkolongwe, Minos Reef and Nkhungu Reef in Mozambique.
Sexual dimorphism: Males in breeding coloration have a golden yellow head and purplish blue body; females display three large blotches on the flanks and caudal peduncle.
Diet: Both sexes feed from sediment on rocks and from sand.
Breeding: The male constructs a small semi-circular spawning dish against the base of a slanted rock beneath an overhang. Females are led from distances of more than 10 m to the spawning site and courted en route.
Special notes: A three-spotted cichlid tentatively assigned to the auromarginatus group. It has been suggested that it may represent a variant of Otopharynx heterodon, but it is treated separately here due to its larger adult size compared with known O. heterodon populations.

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