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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Alticorpus profundicula
Genus: Alticorpus
Type locality: Off Nkhotakota (Kota Kota), Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Biotope: Extreme deep-water habitat over soft sand or mud substrate. Known only from a depth of approximately 159 m.
Geographic distribution: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Positively known only from the type locality off Nkhotakota.
Typical adult size: Up to 16 cm total length.
Recommended aquarium size: Not suitable for aquaria.
Aquarium setup: Not applicable. This species inhabits extreme depths and has never been maintained in captivity.
Diet: Likely feeds on small benthic macroinvertebrates buried in soft substrate. Morphological features suggest probing and foraging within mud or sand rather than active pursuit.
Breeding: Unknown. Presumed maternal mouthbrooder, consistent with other Lake Malawi haplochromines.
Aggression: Unknown.
Special notes: Alticorpus profundicola is the deepest-dwelling species of the genus and one of the least-known cichlids of Lake Malawi.
It is characterized by a high number of gill rakers, a cleithral protuberance, enlarged sensory pores on the head, and weak, fine dentition adapted for feeding in soft deep-water substrates.
The species has not been recorded since its original description and is currently listed as Data Deficient.

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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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