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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Rhamphochromis sp. 'longiceps yellowbelly'.jpg Rhamphochromis sp. 'longiceps yellowbelly' Senga Bay.jpg
Previous pageRhamphochromis sp. 'longiceps yellowbelly' Senga Bay
Genus: Rhamphochromis
Geographic distribution: Collected mainly from the southern part of Lake Malawi, particularly around Salima; additional specimen recorded from Makanjila.
Typical adult size: Reaches just over 200 mm standard length (approximately 25 cm total length).
Sexual dimorphism: Adult males develop orange pelvic and anal fins. In full breeding dress males lose countershading and become dark grey overall, with orange tinting on the throat membrane, underside of the body, lower half of the caudal fin and across the dorsal fin. Females remain silvery.
Diet: Piscivorous.
Special notes: Undescribed and uncommon taxon closely related to R. longiceps, but distinguished by male breeding coloration. Very slender and streamlined compared with other small-maturing species, and the only known small-maturing form in which males become uniformly dark grey in breeding condition.

Molecular analyses have placed it in a basal position within Rhamphochromis, though available genetic material is limited. Additional sampling has been constrained, and its phylogenetic placement remains based on a small number of sequences.

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