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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'zebra yellow tail' Lupingu.jpg Maylandia sp. 'zebra yellow tail' Magunga.jpg Maylandia sp. 'zebra yellow tail' Manda.jpg
Next pageMaylandia sp. 'zebra yellow tail' Lupingu<br><font color=gray>Metriaclima sp. 'zebra yellow tail' Lupingu</font>
Tribe / Genus: Maylandia
Biotope: Deeper, sediment-rich rocky habitat, also occurring over sandy patches between rocks.
Geographic distribution: Restricted to the eastern coast of Lake Malawi, where it occurs between Lupingu and Manda.
Sexual dimorphism: Males and females are similar in general body shape, with an elongate form. Females are dark brown in coloration, similar to females of Maylandia sp. ‘zebra gold’. Both sexes usually occur singly.
Diet: Plankton is commonly available at depths of approximately 15–25 meters, and this species is associated with habitats where plankton feeding is common. It also forages from the biocover on rocky substrates.
Breeding: Spawning behavior has not been described separately for this species, but it occurs in deeper rocky habitats similar to those inhabited by Maylandia sp. ‘zebra gold’, where spawning typically takes place in caves among rocks or in excavated pits beneath stones.
Aggression: No specific observations are provided. By comparison with closely related species from deeper rocky habitats, aggression is likely directed primarily towards conspecifics.
Special notes: Maylandia sp. ‘zebra yellow tail’ is considered similar and possibly closely related to Maylandia sp. ‘zebra gold’, but differs clearly in its geographic distribution. While M. sp. ‘zebra gold’ is restricted to the western coast of Lake Malawi, M. sp. ‘zebra yellow tail’ is confined to the eastern coast. Polychromatism has not been observed in this species.

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Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Pete Barnes
Photo: © Pete Barnes
Photo: © Ricky Ward
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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