malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Diplotaxodon apogon 'South East Arm'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: Off Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, at approximately 100 m depth
Biotope: Deep-water benthic to midwater environments over muddy bottoms, typically at depths of about 80–130 m
Geographic distribution: Southern arms of Lake Malawi; reliably documented from deep-water trawl catches in the southern basin
Typical adult size: Up to about 117 mm SL; approximately 14 cm total length
Sexual dimorphism: Pronounced in breeding condition. Males develop a strongly contrasting black-and-white pattern with a pale ventral surface and a broad white margin on the dorsal fin; pelvic fins black and anal fin dark with one or two pale yellow egg spots. Females and juveniles are silvery, countershaded, and lack egg spots; female pelvic fins are shorter and do not reach the vent
Diet: Unknown in detail; morphology (steeply angled gape and long gill rakers) suggests feeding on small midwater prey such as planktonic invertebrates or fish larvae
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding likely occurs in deep benthic habitats; females carry small broods of relatively large eggs. Reproductively active individuals have been collected throughout much of the year, suggesting a broad breeding season
Special notes: A small-bodied, large-eyed deep-water species of Diplotaxodon. Historically confused with D. ecclesi, but now regarded as distinct based on consistent differences in size, meristics, and male breeding coloration. Larger, similar-looking fishes from elsewhere in the lake are treated separately as Diplotaxodon sp. ‘offshore’

Photo gallery

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
© malawi.si