malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Diplotaxodon argenteus 'Narungu'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: South end of Lake Malawi
Biotope: Deep benthic habitats; commonly taken in trawl catches at about 34–114 m in the southern arms. In the far south it may also occur in large schools at shallower depths (about 20–50 m)
Geographic distribution: Collected in the southern part of Lake Malawi; believed to have a lake-wide distribution
Typical adult size: Typically about 145–160 mm SL; probable maximum around 180 mm SL (about 21 cm total length)
Sexual dimorphism: Adult males develop breeding coloration in which the flanks remain silvery while the dorsal region, upper snout, lips, throat, unpaired fins, and pelvic fins become darkly pigmented
Diet: Feeds on the lake sardine (Engraulicypris sardella); will also eat other fish that fit in its mouth, including other Diplotaxodon
Breeding: Males in breeding colors have been caught at different times of the year; based on captures in deep-water net hauls it is inferred to spawn in the water column, with breeding occurring multiple times per year in the southern part of the lake
Special notes: Type species of Diplotaxodon. Described by Trewavas (1935) from three syntypes collected at Bar House (Mangochi) between 1925–1926. Lectotype selection: the largest syntype (150.7 mm SL) designated by Stauffer et al. (2018). Diagnostically notable for a strongly upturned mouth with robust jaws combined with a relatively high lower gill-raker count (often 23–25 in type material).

The three forms recorded by Turner et al. (2004) as Diplotaxodon sp. ‘deep’, Diplotaxodon sp. ‘large black’, and Diplotaxodon sp. ‘black argenteus’ are very similar in shape to Diplotaxodon argenteus and, according to Martin Genner, are likely conspecific with that species.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Martin Geerts
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