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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia mossambica 'Chiloelo'.jpg Maylandia mossambica 'Chinuni'.jpg Maylandia mossambica 'Lumessi'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMaylandia mossambica 'Chinuni'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima mossambicum 'Chinuni'</font>
Genus: Maylandia
Type locality: Chiloelo, Lake Malawi, Mozambique
Biotope: Intermediate habitat at depths of about 7–20 m, where gently sloping rocky areas grade into sand; the sandy bottom is often covered with muddy sediment, and sediment is also present on the rocks.
Geographic distribution: Along the Mozambique shore of Lake Malawi between the Chiloelo River and Chinuni (about 20 km), with documented populations including Chiloelo, Lumessi, and Chinuni.
Typical adult size: In the lake, males reach about 10 cm total length and females remain about 2 cm smaller.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are beige to light brown and show an orange/yellow margin in the caudal and anal fins, whereas adult males develop bright breeding coloration that varies geographically. Three described male variants are known: Lumessi males combine a gray/blue and gold pattern with a yellow ventral head region; Chinuni males are light blue with seven gray bars and a narrow black submarginal band in the anal fin; Chiloelo males are light blue with 7–8 dark bars and show black streaking in the caudal fin and in the posterior portion of the dorsal fin.
Diet: Mostly phytoplankton, but browsing loose algae from aufwuchs on rocks is also common. Feeding involves raking loose material—mainly diatoms and short algal strands—from the substrate while leaving the algal matrix intact.
Breeding: Territorial males maintain a burrow under a rock on sand or near the bottom among small rocks. Females and non-territorial males are usually solitary or in small groups; ripe females are courted and led into the burrow where spawning occurs. Mouthbrooding females typically remain solitary between rocks in the intermediate habitat.
Aggression: Males are territorial, especially in breeding coloration; females and non-territorial individuals are usually solitary or occur in small groups.
Special notes: Despite marked geographic differences in male coloration, the known populations are treated as a single species due to strong morphological overlap among neighboring populations, broadly similar female coloration, and variability of male coloration within populations.

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