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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia melissa 'Chitande Island'.jpg Melanochromis mpoto 'Chitande Island'.jpg Mylochromis guentheri 'Chitande Island'.jpg Nimbochromis linni 'Chitande Island'.jpg Oreochromis shiranus 'Chitande Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageMylochromis guentheri 'Chitande Island'
Genus: Mylochromis
Type locality: Lake Malawi.
Biotope: Sandy habitat; occasionally encountered in the intermediate zone during breeding.
Geographic distribution: Lake-wide distribution in Lake Malawi, but nowhere common.
Diet: Likely feeds by skimming the surface of the sand, possibly collecting detritus and small invertebrates; small pharyngeal teeth and procumbent lower oral teeth suggest surface-feeding rather than sand-sifting.
Breeding: Breeding colonies observed in shallow water (about 8 m). Males build bowers incorporating a rock as part of the structure and defend territories spaced several meters apart. Maternal mouthbrooder.
Special notes: Distinguished by a diagonal stripe and a lower jaw that is shorter than the upper jaw. Mouthbrooding females are solitary and often rest on the sand of the intermediate habitat during the breeding season.

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