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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Stigmatochromis woodi 'Chimwalani (Eccles) Reef'.jpg Tropheops kamtambo 'Chimwalani (Eccles) Reef'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'black dorsal' Chimwalani Reef.jpg Tropheops sp. 'yellow gular' Chimwalani Reef.jpg Tyrannochromis nigriventer 'Chimwalani Reef'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageTropheops sp. 'black dorsal' Chimwalani Reef
Genus: Tropheops
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitats, primarily in the southeastern part of Lake Malawi.
Geographic distribution: Southeastern shoreline of Lake Malawi in purely rocky environments; restricted local distribution.
Typical adult size: Medium-sized member of the genus; exact maximum size not documented.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are dark with a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin and vertical barring typical of the black-type group. Females are bright yellow overall, lacking the mid-lateral blotch row seen in closely related forms.
Aggression: Territorial behavior expected in males, as in other members of the genus inhabiting rocky habitats.
Special notes: Member of the “black-type” Tropheops group, characterized by a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin and barred males on a dark ground color. It is very closely related to Tropheops sp. ‘chinyankwazi’, but differs clearly in female coloration: females of this species are uniformly bright yellow, whereas those of Tropheops sp. ‘chinyankwazi’ show a dull yellow base with a distinct mid-lateral row of grey blotches. Like many Tropheops restricted to isolated rocky stretches, its status as a distinct species versus a localized population remains open to future revision pending broader phylogenetic study.

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