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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Pseudotropheus tursiops 'Chizumulu Island'
Genus: Pseudotropheus
Type locality: Lake Malawi.
Biotope: Shallow intermediate habitat among small and medium-sized rocks, from the extreme shallows down to about 9 m depth.
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Chizumulu Island in Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Up to approximately 10–11 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger, more intensely blue and have longer fins than females.
Aquarium setup: Provide abundant rockwork with crevices and caves to allow establishment of feeding territories and spawning sites.
Diet: Herbivorous “dolphin mbuna” feeding on aufwuchs. The elongated, narrow snout enables feeding from deep crevices, and algae are gripped using the sides of the pointed jaws.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Males defend territories, often centred around a crevice or cave. Incubation lasts about three weeks, after which the female releases the fry and may guard them for a short period.
Aggression: Territorial and aggressive intraspecifically and towards other species. Both males and some females defend feeding territories.
Special notes: Member of the “dolphin mbuna” group characterized by an elongated, beak-like snout adapted for feeding within rock crevices. The species was named for its resemblance to the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus.

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