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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia sp. 'patricki' Mbenji Island.jpg Melanochromis auratus 'Mbenji Island'.jpg Melanochromis heterochromis 'Mbenji Island'.jpg Melanochromis sp. 'robustus mbenji' Mbenji Island.jpg Mylochromis labidodon 'Mbenji Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMelanochromis heterochromis 'Mbenji Island'
Genus: Melanochromis
Type locality: Chinyamwezi Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitat at shallow levels, also occasionally occurring in the intermediate habitat.
Geographic distribution: Occurs on major rocky coasts and islands between Jalo Reef (Nkhotakota) and Monkey Bay. It is absent from the coast between Makanjila Point and the Mozambique border but occurs on the islands Chinyankwazi and Chinyamwezi in the southeastern arm of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Males reach a total length of about 11 cm, while females remain approximately one fourth smaller.
Diet: An opportunistic feeder. It feeds from the free water as well as from the biocover on the rocks and is attracted to stirred-up material. At some locations, individuals form large foraging schools and have been observed feeding on discarded fish offal.
Breeding: At locations where the species is abundant, many males are territorial, while other males in breeding coloration remain non-territorial and join foraging schools. At low-density sites, males may behave aggressively toward conspecific males, although territoriality is rare. Spawning probably takes place inside a cave, as females are led into dark recesses by males.
Special notes: Distinguished from other Melanochromis species with reversed male–female pigmentation patterns by a deeper body and a combination of head and jaw proportions. It differs from closely related species by details of stripe arrangement on the nape and fin coloration. Considerable variation in male breeding colour exists among populations.

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