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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Trematocranus pachychilus (preserved specimens)
Genus: Trematocranus
Type locality: Jafua Bay, Lake Malawi, Mozambique
Geographic distribution: Only known from Jafua Bay, north of Cobué, Lake Malawi (Mozambique).
Typical adult size: At least 154.6 mm SL (largest known specimen, the holotype).
Special notes: Trematocranus pachychilus (Dierickx et al., 2018) corresponds to Trematocranus sp. ‘thick-lip bicuspid’ as reported earlier, and is clearly distinct from other described members of the genus by its thick lips. All type specimens were taken in a single bottom-trawl haul at Jafua Bay over soft substrates at 10.8 – 12.8 m depth. Shell fragments of snails were observed in the stomachs of some specimens on X-rays. Thick, fleshy lips are often associated with rocky habitats in cichlids, where they help seal the mouth and protect against sharp rock while feeding in crevices, even though the type series was caught over soft substrate.

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Photo: © Katrien Dierickx
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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