malawi.si

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Pseudotropheus perileucos 'Likoma Island'.jpg Pseudotropheus sp. 'aggressive grey' Likoma Island.jpg Pseudotropheus sp. 'sand cobalt' Likoma Island.jpg Sciaenochromis ahli 'Likoma Island'.jpg Sciaenochromis fryeri 'Likoma Island'.jpg
Previous pageNext pagePseudotropheus sp. 'sand cobalt' Likoma Island
Genus: Pseudotropheus
Biotope: Sediment-rich intermediate habitat with sandy areas between rocks; often associated with sand-scooping behavior.
Geographic distribution: Likoma Island, Lake Malawi; populations occur all around Likoma Island and are absent from nearby Chizumulu Island.
Typical adult size: Medium-sized mbuna (exact maximum size not specified in available observations).
Sexual dimorphism: Males are blue; vertical barring may be prominent in some individuals while absent in others within the same population. Females are less intensely colored.
Diet: Feeds by scooping sand and grazing from the substrate, extracting edible material from the biocover and associated debris.
Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder.
Aggression: Not specifically documented; likely territorial as typical for mbuna.
Special notes: Previously confused with forms referred to as “zebra bevous”. The Likoma population was earlier termed Metriaclima sp. ‘black dorsal cobalt’. It is now suggested to refer to this blue, sand-scooping mbuna from Likoma as Pseudotropheus sp. ‘sand cobalt’. Color pattern is variable within the population, with some individuals lacking the vertical bars that are prominent in others.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Ad Konings
malawi.si
Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© malawi.si