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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Rhamphochromis sp. 'longsnout' South East Arm.jpg Rhamphochromis sp. 'maldeco' South East Arm.jpg Rhamphochromis woodi 'South East Arm'.jpg Sciaenochromis sp. 'deep water' South East Arm.jpg Sciaenochromis sp. 'torpedo head' South East Arm.jpg
Previous pageNext pageRhamphochromis woodi 'South East Arm'
Genus: Rhamphochromis
Type locality: Domira Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Pelagic, open-water habitats; large offshore predator most frequently inhabiting the open water column.
Geographic distribution: Reported lake-wide in Lake Malawi, occurring in inshore reef and shelf zones as well as offshore in the true pelagic zone, at depths of 8 to 121 m.
Typical adult size: Up to about 388 mm standard length; among the largest Rhamphochromis species in overall bulk.
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males exhibit orange pelvic fins and a solid orange anal fin without eggspots. The branchiostegal membrane is typically orange and may extend onto the chest, belly and lower operculum. Males retain strong countershading rather than turning uniformly silver.
Diet: Piscivorous. Larger individuals feed mainly on pelagic fishes including Diplotaxodon spp. and Engraulicypris.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Smallest recorded ripe male 164 mm standard length; smallest ripe female 198 mm standard length. Ripe females may carry up to 546 eggs measuring nearly 5 mm in diameter. Mouthbrooding females recorded in midwater at 30–50 m depth.
Special notes: A very large ncheni with a deep, laterally compressed head, extremely large mouth with hard non-fleshy lips, long lower jaw, and huge, widely spaced teeth. The premaxillary pedicel is long and generally does not protrude markedly posteriorly. Unlike some other large congeners, males do not develop a distinct horizontal dark stripe.

Taxonomic history within the genus has been highly confused, with extensive historical misidentifications in museum collections and overlapping diagnoses in earlier revisions. Current interpretation treats R. brevis as a junior synonym of R. woodi. It ranks among the four largest Rhamphochromis species in Lake Malawi and is probably second in overall size.

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Photo: © George Turner
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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