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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Nimbochromis livingstonii 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Otopharynx heterodon 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Otopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus jakuta' Chizumulu Island.jpg Petrotilapia flaviventris 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg Petrotilapia palingnathos 'Chizumulu Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageOtopharynx sp. 'auromarginatus jakuta' Chizumulu Island'
Genus: Otopharynx
Biotope: Primarily sandy habitat; males require a small rock adjacent to the spawning site and are therefore often encountered in the intermediate habitat.
Geographic distribution: Chizumulu Island; also recorded at Ntekete and Gome on the eastern shore of Lake Malawi.
Breeding: Males construct a sand-castle spawning structure 30–40 cm high piled alongside a small rock, slanted at an angle of 30–40° to the horizontal. The spawning dish is situated close to the rock.
Special notes: The name “jakuta” means “replete” in Chi-Cheŵa. Females and non-breeding males frequently have stomachs filled with debris and plankton collected just above the sand. The flank pattern differs from Otopharynx auromarginatus by a large elongate blotch accompanied by two or three smaller spots. A form referred to as O. sp. ‘tetraspilus elongate spot’ may represent the same taxon.

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