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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'lime' Maingano Island.jpg Maylandia sp. 'lime' Mbamba Islands.jpg Maylandia sp. 'lime' Membe Point.jpg
Next pageMaylandia sp. 'lime' Maingano Island<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima sp. 'lime' Maingano Island</font>
Genus: Maylandia
Biotope: Intermediate habitat with a mixture of rocks and sand along the northeastern shores of Lake Malawi. The species typically inhabits depths between about 5 and 15 m.
Geographic distribution: Lake Malawi at Membe Point on Likoma Island and at Mbamba Island, a few kilometers south of Membe Point.
Sexual dimorphism: Males show color variation between populations, being almost completely yellow at Membe Point and light blue at Mbamba Island. Females are silvery beige with a yellow dorsal fin.
Special notes: This undescribed species belongs to the so-called lime group of Maylandia, which comprises elongate mbuna with bicuspid teeth but a morphology and behavior resembling conical-toothed Cynotilapia. Although clearly placed within Maylandia based on skull morphology and dentition, members of the lime group are not closely related to the typical zebra-like species of the genus. Maylandia sp. ‘lime’ is closely related to Maylandia sp. ‘daktari’ and Maylandia sp. ‘lime nkhomo’, and males of these taxa show very similar color patterns, with two geographical races known for each species.

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