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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia pambazuko 'Hongi Island'.jpg Maylandia pambazuko 'Londo Bay'.jpg
Next pageMaylandia pambazuko 'Hongi Island'<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima pambazuko 'Hongi Island'</font>
Genus: Maylandia
Type locality: Londo Bay, Lake Malawi, Mozambique.
Biotope: Rocky habitat, often with large rocks. Occurs both on sediment-free rocky reefs and on sediment-rich rocky biotopes at somewhat deeper levels, occasionally extending into intermediate habitats. Rare where rocks are sparse on sandy bottoms.
Geographic distribution: Known from Lundo Island and Hongi Island in Tanzania, and from Londo Bay along the Mozambique shore of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Wild males reach about 10 cm total length, while females remain approximately 15% smaller at around 8.5 cm. In captivity the species is expected to grow somewhat larger.
Sexual dimorphism: Males and females differ clearly in coloration. Males display a blue ground color with 5–7 distinct black vertical bars and a yellow to orange dorsal fin, while females are gray-blue to light brown with fewer and less distinct bars and lack the vivid fin coloration of males.
Diet: Feeds primarily on aufwuchs, combing loose material such as diatoms and short strands of blue-green algae from rocky substrates. It is also occasionally found feeding on plankton in the water column.
Breeding: Breeding males defend territories centered around caves among the rocks, with adjacent territories sometimes as close as about 75 cm. Females may forage singly or in small groups. Spawning occurs inside the male’s cave. Females are maternal mouthbrooders and release the fry among the rocks, after which parental care ceases.
Aggression: Males are strongly territorial during the breeding period and defend their spawning sites vigorously against intruders, while aggression toward other species is generally limited to territory defense.
Special notes: The coloration of Maylandia pambazuko resembles that of Cynotilapia zebroides, but it can be distinguished by the presence of bicuspid teeth in the outer jaw rows. Although it shares a red or orange dorsal fin with M. emmiltos and M. pyrsonotos, these species are geographically separated and do not overlap in distribution. Despite similarities to some populations of M. fainzilberi and M. zebra, no intermediates have been found, supporting its status as a distinct species.

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