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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Pseudotropheus sp. 'perspicax hara' Gallireya Reef.jpg Tramitichromis intermedius 'Gallireya Reef'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'black hara' Gallireya Reef.jpg Tropheops sp. 'macrophthalmus chitimba blue' Gallireya Reef.jpg Tropheops sp. 'macrophthalmus gallireya' Gallireya Reef.jpg
Previous pageNext pageTropheops sp. 'black hara' Gallireya Reef
Genus: Tropheops
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitat; observed near larger accumulations of rocks at Gallireya Reef in Youngs Bay (south of Chilumba).
Geographic distribution: Known from Gallireya Reef in Youngs Bay, near Hara Village in the northern part of Lake Malawi.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are mainly golden yellow and lack the dark submarginal band in the dorsal fin typical of many black-type species. Females resemble those of Tropheops gracilior, with a darker ground color and subdued patterning.
Aggression: Territorial behavior expected in males, as in other rock-dwelling members of the genus.
Special notes: Assigned to the black-type Tropheops group and considered closely related to Tropheops gracilior. The name “black hara” refers to the historical usage of the name Tropheops sp. ‘black’ for northern populations later associated with T. gracilior. Despite the resemblance in female coloration, males differ clearly by lacking a dark dorsal submarginal band and showing a predominantly golden yellow coloration. Its restricted occurrence at Gallireya Reef suggests a localized lineage that may warrant further phylogenetic investigation.

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