Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Genus:	Melanochromis
Type locality:	Chidunga Rocks, Lake Malawi.
Biotope:	Sediment-free rocky habitat, associated with rocky reefs and intermediate zones between rock and sand.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Chidunga Rocks near Chipoka in the southwestern part of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size:	Males reach a maximum standard length of about 12 cm, with females remaining smaller.
Recommended aquarium size:	An aquarium volume of 500 L is recommended.
Diet:	Omnivorous with a strong predatory component. Feeds predominantly on small fishes and also consumes invertebrates; individuals are attracted to stirred-up sediment.
Breeding:	Males may dig spawning sites between rocks resting on sand. Females are maternal mouthbrooders and are usually encountered solitary or in small groups. In recent observations, most males at the type locality were not territorial.
Aggression:	Very aggressive within the species, particularly among males, while generally tolerant toward other species.
Special notes:	A large and elongate species of Melanochromis characterised by pronounced sexual dichromatism, with blue-coloured males and yellow females bearing broad black horizontal stripes. The species is restricted to a very small rocky reef at Chidunga Rocks and has experienced a severe decline due to collection for the ornamental fish trade. It is considered critically rare in the wild and has not been observed outside its type locality.