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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Maylandia zebra 'Harbour Island'.jpg Protomelas pleurotaenia 'Harbour Island'.jpg Protomelas virgatus 'Harbour Island'.jpg Tropheops kumwera 'Harbour Island'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'masimbwe' Harbour Island.jpg
Previous pageNext pageProtomelas virgatus 'Harbour Island'
Genus: Protomelas
Type locality: Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Shallow intermediate habitat, usually sediment-rich and normally not deeper than 10 m.
Geographic distribution: Southern part of Lake Malawi, south of Nkhotakota.
Typical adult size: Average male total length about 13 cm; females are usually a few centimeters smaller.
Sexual dimorphism: Males develop territorial breeding coloration and defend bowers. Females and non-territorial males may form small groups while feeding.
Aquarium setup: Only one adult male per aquarium is recommended. Avoid keeping with other Steveni-like species to reduce interspecific aggression.
Diet: Picks at aufwuchs on rocks; diet consists mainly of algae but also includes invertebrates. Enlarged pharyngeal teeth suggest partial invertebrate feeding.
Breeding: Males form small breeding leks and defend shallow sand bowers on top of rocks, about 50 cm in diameter. Females spawn on these platforms. Likely maternal mouthbrooder providing care after first release of fry.
Aggression: Territorial males actively defend boundaries against neighboring males.
Special notes: Distinguished by its peculiar jaw shape, narrow anteriorly and broader posteriorly, and by a melanin pattern of three longitudinal rows of irregular spots. Often compared with P. sp. ‘steveni imperial’, but treated here as a separate species.

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