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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon dentatus 'Thumbi East Island'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: Off Thumbi East Island, Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, at 73 m depth
Biotope: Deep-water benthic habitat over muddy substrate; associated with depths greater than about 50 m
Geographic distribution: Confirmed only from the southeastern arm of Lake Malawi (off Thumbi East Island, Monkey Bay); wider distribution possible if conspecific with the form known as Diplotaxodon sp. ‘blackfin’, but this remains provisional
Typical adult size: Up to about 120 mm SL (approximately 15 cm total length)
Sexual dimorphism: Expressed mainly in coloration. Preserved males show darker snout and dorsal flank, black pelvic fins, and dark anal-fin membranes; females are paler overall. Breeding males (formerly referred to as Diplotaxodon sp. ‘blackfin’) develop dark pelvic and anal fins, dark dorsal-fin lappets, and a distinct dark patch in the middle of the caudal fin; males lack anal-fin egg spots
Diet: Stomachs of the type series were empty; based on exposed oral teeth and unicuspid pharyngeal dentition, the species is inferred to be piscivorous
Breeding: Direct observations lacking. Inferred to be a maternal mouthbrooder with a polygynandrous mating system, as in all Diplotaxodon. Likely spawns in deep benthic habitats. Males appear to rely on high-contrast dark breeding coloration rather than egg spots for courtship signaling
Special notes: Described by Stauffer & Konings (2021) from a single trawl haul made in 1985; known type series consists of eight specimens only. Initially misidentified as Diplotaxodon argenteus due to exposed oral teeth, but differs consistently by a shorter snout, more slender body, distinctive head proportions, and higher gill-raker counts. Assigned to the D. argenteus group.

On morphological and coloration grounds, Diplotaxodon dentatus is considered conspecific with the form previously known as Diplotaxodon sp. ‘blackfin’. The species name dentatus refers to the prominent, widely spaced caniniform teeth that remain exposed when the mouth is closed

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Photo: © Ad Konings
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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