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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Taeniochromis holotaenia 'Luwala Reef'.jpg Tropheops kamtambo 'Luwala Reef'.jpg Tropheops sp. 'black dorsal' Luwala Reef.jpg
Previous pageTropheops sp. 'black dorsal' Luwala Reef
Genus: Tropheops
Biotope: Sediment-free rocky habitats, primarily in the southeastern part of Lake Malawi.
Geographic distribution: Southeastern shoreline of Lake Malawi in purely rocky environments; restricted local distribution.
Typical adult size: Medium-sized member of the genus; exact maximum size not documented.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are dark with a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin and vertical barring typical of the black-type group. Females are bright yellow overall, lacking the mid-lateral blotch row seen in closely related forms.
Aggression: Territorial behavior expected in males, as in other members of the genus inhabiting rocky habitats.
Special notes: Member of the “black-type” Tropheops group, characterized by a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin and barred males on a dark ground color. It is very closely related to Tropheops sp. ‘chinyankwazi’, but differs clearly in female coloration: females of this species are uniformly bright yellow, whereas those of Tropheops sp. ‘chinyankwazi’ show a dull yellow base with a distinct mid-lateral row of grey blotches. Like many Tropheops restricted to isolated rocky stretches, its status as a distinct species versus a localized population remains open to future revision pending broader phylogenetic study.

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