Sand areas between rocks and occasionally inside
caves at depths ranging from 2–15 m.
Geographic distribution:
Southern Lake Malawi around the Nankumba
Peninsula, including Thumbi West Island.
Breeding:
Breeding males defend shallow sand-scrape spawning
sites situated between rocks or sometimes inside
caves.
Special notes:
May represent a large form of Otopharynx
heterodon. The lectotype of O. heterodon
possesses a black blotch in front of the dorsal fin,
a feature also observed in this population and not
seen in other forms referred to as O. heterodon.
Further examination of type material from the
type locality may clarify its taxonomic status.
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