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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'taiwan' Taiwanee Reef<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima sp. 'taiwan' Taiwanee Reef</font>
Tribe / Genus: Maylandia
Biotope: Deep rocky habitat, associated with isolated reef structures and rocky substrates at considerable depth.
Geographic distribution: Taiwanee Reef, Lake Malawi, a completely isolated reef separated from the mainland and from Chizumulu Island by water deeper than 100 meters.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are very dark blue-black with narrow blue bars. Females are brown and are sometimes observed in shallower water combing algae from rocks.
Diet: Feeds by combing algae from rocks in a manner consistent with other members of Maylandia, while also scrutinizing small amounts of sediment on rocks and picking small particles and debris from the substrate or water column.
Aggression: Males do not appear to be territorial based on field observations.
Special notes: This elongate zebra-like mbuna was originally assigned to Pseudotropheus but is now regarded as a member of Maylandia based on its feeding behavior. It is not as slender as the elongate Maylandia species of the upper rocky habitat. The species is rare, with only a few individuals observed. Males were seen feeding at depths of about 30 meters, and their behavior resembles that of Pseudotropheus crabro or Melanochromis loriae. No individuals were collected, so its generic placement has not been verified by specimen examination.

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