malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Facebook
Diplotaxodon aeneus
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: From a midwater trawling over a lake bed depth of 400 m, offshore northeast of Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Deep-water habitats, reported from about 25–160 m depth.
Geographic distribution: Recorded from Chilumba Harbour, Nkhata Bay, and Domira Bay on the western coast of Lake Malawi.
Typical adult size: Up to about 14 cm standard length, approximately 17 cm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Mature males are described as uniformly dark with a distinct coppery sheen and completely lacking a white margin on the dorsal fin.
Diet: Assigned to the Diplotaxodon macrops group, described as generally specialized for feeding on plankton. Morphological features noted include an upwardly angled mouth, a prominent premaxillary pedicel, and two rows of simple jaw teeth.
Breeding: A maternal mouthbrooder.
Special notes: The type series comprises six specimens (one holotype and five paratypes) collected offshore northeast of Nkhata Bay. The species is described as deep-bodied with large eyes, a large mouth, and a prominent premaxillary pedicel, and is reported to reach about 140 mm standard length.

Photo gallery

Photo: © George Turner
Photo: © George Turner
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram Support this site
© malawi.si