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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Tropheops kumwera 'Harbour Island'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'masimbwe' Harbour Island.jpg Tropheops tropheops 'Harbour Island'.jpg
Previous pageTropheops tropheops 'Harbour Island'<br><font color=gray>Tropheops sp. 'broadmouth' Harbour Island</font>
Genus: Tropheops
Type locality: Domira Bay, Lake Malawi
Biotope: Shallow, sediment-rich rocky and intermediate habitats, usually in water less than 8 m deep.
Geographic distribution: Widespread in the southernmost part of Lake Malawi, including Boadzulu Island, Chemwezi Rocks, Harbour Island, Kanchedza Island, Maleri Island, Monkey Bay, Mphande Island and Mumbo Island.
Typical adult size: The largest type measured 12.2 cm total length; individuals may attain larger size in captivity.
Sexual dimorphism: Females are smaller and duller, showing beige-yellow coloration. Males develop longer fins, larger anal ocelli and more intense greyish to greenish-blue coloration with prominent submarginal bands on the vertical fins.
Diet: Feeds mainly on filamentous algae and loose aufwuchs scraped from rocks, with smaller proportions of benthic invertebrates and plankton.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder. Males establish territories typically at 2–5 m depth on horizontal rock surfaces or slabs and excavate shallow pits beneath stones as spawning sites.
Aggression: Males are strongly territorial and exclude intruders, particularly conspecifics; females are generally non-territorial, although a small proportion may defend territories.
Special notes: The original description did not specify a precise collecting locality beyond “Lake Nyassa”, but later correspondence from the collector Rodney Wood confirmed that the material originated from Domira Bay. Considerable taxonomic confusion surrounded the identity of this species for decades. According to Ad Konings (2022), true Tropheops tropheops corresponds to the form previously known as Tropheops sp. ‘broadmouth’, whereas the species earlier regarded as the true T. tropheops is now referred to as Tropheops sp. ‘orange chest’.

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