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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Protomelas annectens 'Mdowa'.jpg Protomelas taeniolatus 'Mdowa'.jpg Protomelas triaenodon 'Mdowa'.jpg Pseudotropheus elegans 'Mdowa'.jpg Tramitichromis intermedius 'Mdowa'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageProtomelas triaenodon 'Mdowa'
Genus: Protomelas
Type locality: South east arm between Shire Bar and Nkhudzi, Lake Malawi, Malawi
Biotope: Pure sandy bottoms at depths greater than 10 m. Commonly recorded in experimental trawls between 10–30 m in the southeastern arm of the lake.
Geographic distribution: Probably lake-wide; recorded from Liuli Bay (Tanzania), near Kande Island (Malawi), and various localities in the southern part of the lake.
Typical adult size: Maximum recorded total length about 15.5 cm, with slightly larger individuals collected in Senga Bay.
Sexual dimorphism: Yellow ventral fins and a narrow red margin to the dorsal fin are characteristic. Breeding males have not been observed underwater.
Aquarium setup: Only one adult male per aquarium is recommended, as males are almost permanently territorial.
Diet: Tricuspid outer teeth and numerous small pharyngeal teeth indicate a herbivorous diet, possibly grazing algae or diatoms from small stones and pebbles.
Aggression: Males are almost permanently territorial in captivity.
Special notes: Distinguished within the genus by strongly marked longitudinal stripes and tricuspid outer teeth. Despite being common at certain depths, it is absent from similar shallower habitats.

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Photo: © Carsten Jensen Gissel
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Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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