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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Melanochromis mpoto 'Chitande Island'.jpg Melanochromis mpoto 'Kakusa'.jpg Melanochromis mpoto 'Katale Island'.jpg Melanochromis mpoto 'Mphanga Rocks'.jpg Melanochromis mpoto 'Ruarwe'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMelanochromis mpoto 'Katale Island'
Genus: Melanochromis
Type locality: Katale Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Rocky and intermediate habitats. Most frequently observed at depths of 20–40 m, but locally recorded as shallow as about 7 m.
Geographic distribution: Northern Lake Malawi. Recorded along the northwestern shore between Chitande Island and Nkhata Bay, and along the northeastern shore between Matema and Hongi Island near Liuli. Sympatric with M. kaskazini along parts of the Tanzanian coast.
Typical adult size: Males attain approximately 14–15 cm total length; females rarely exceed about 10 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males are uniform cyan to light blue without visible bars or stripes on the flank and show a pale-blue distal margin in the dorsal fin. Females and non-breeding males are brown to dark brown with a melanin pattern consisting of two horizontal stripes combined with vertical bars.
Recommended aquarium size: An aquarium volume of 500 L is recommended.
Diet: Predatory omnivore. Feeds on small fishes (fry), benthic crustaceans, insect larvae and other invertebrates, and occasionally plankton. Individuals are opportunistic and may form small hunting packs when prey opportunities arise. Attracted to disturbed sediment.
Breeding: Territorial males have not been observed in the wild. Courtship occurs opportunistically when males encounter receptive females. Females are maternal mouthbrooders and remain solitary during brooding. Brooding females are sometimes encountered in shallower water.
Aggression: Generally solitary but capable of forming temporary hunting groups. In the aquarium males are highly territorial and should be kept singly.
Special notes: Distinguished from M. melanopterus by the presence of vertical bars in females and non-breeding males. Fully coloured males closely resemble those of M. kaskazini, but juveniles and females differ markedly in basic melanin pattern. The species is uncommon in most areas, usually encountered singly or in small numbers.

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