Recorded from vegetated areas of the southern part of the lake; the
type specimens were collected at the northern end of Lake Malawi.
Special notes:
Described from a few specimens collected at the north end of the lake.
Characterized by a diagonal stripe and stout teeth on the pharyngeal
jaws, together with strong, thick lips. The form most closely matching
the type is a robust fish with thick lips and a diagonal stripe draped
over the nape, a feature reflected in the name balteatus
(“girdled”). Observations from various localities suggest that
multiple distinct forms have previously been identified under this
name, including a Mozambican population referred to as
Mylochromis sp. ‘balteatus mozambique’.
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