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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Diplotaxodon greenwoodi.jpg Diplotaxodon greenwoodi 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Diplotaxodon greenwoodi 'Mbamba Bay'.jpg
Previous pageDiplotaxodon greenwoodi 'Mbamba Bay'
Genus: Diplotaxodon
Type locality: 8 km south of Mumbo Island, Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi, at about 86 m depth
Biotope: Deep-water habitats of Lake Malawi
Geographic distribution: Lake-wide distribution in Lake Malawi, but nowhere common
Typical adult size: At least 24 cm standard length; possibly approaching 27 cm SL
Sexual dimorphism: Breeding males darken strongly on the dorsal surface, head, and all fins, while the flanks and belly remain silvery; males bear multiple yellow eggspots on the anal fin. Females are less intensely colored
Diet: Paedophage; steals fry from the mouths of brooding females
Special notes: Diplotaxodon greenwoodi is one of the largest and most extreme members of the genus, distinguished by its very deep, laterally compressed body, extremely large mouth, and steeply angled, upward-directed gape. It differs from other large deep-water predators such as Pallidochromis tokolosh and Diplotaxodon longimaxilla by its deeper body and more strongly upturned mouth.

Phylogenomic evidence places this species as the sister taxon to Pallidochromis tokolosh, with D. longimaxilla as the next closest relative. Despite its size and striking morphology, the species is rarely encountered and has never been exported alive for aquarium keeping

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