Copadichromis azureus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Copadichromis |
Species: | C. azureus |
Binomial name | |
Copadichromis azureus Konings, 1990 | |
Copadichromis azureus is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in the country of Malawi.
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Copadichromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Copadichromis are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to the mbuna.
Copadichromis atripinnis is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Malawi in Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.
Copadichromis chrysonotus is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.
Copadichromis cyaneus is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.
Copadichromis geertsi is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi.
Copadichromis ilesi is a species of haplochromine cichlid, which is endemic to Lake Malawi, where it is widespread, although not recorded from Mozambique. The specific name of this species honours the British fisheries scientist and ichthyologis Thomas Derrick Iles (1927-2017).
Copadichromis jacksoni is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species normally occurs in sheltered bays where it lives in schools in the open water and feeds on plankton. It breeds in clear water where there are steep, rocky shores and breeding seems to occur all year. The males defend territories over large boulders which project from the rocky substrate. The identity of the person honoured in the specific name was not specified by the author but is most likely to be the ichthyologist Peter B. N. Jackson (1924–2007) of the Joint Fisheries Research Organisation of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
Copadichromis likomae is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It forms schools and feeds on zooplankton.
Copadichromis mbenjii is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is only found around Mbenje Island from where it takes its specific name.
Copadichromis mloto is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi.
Copadichromis nkatae is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species can be found over both rocky and sandy areas where it feeds on zooplankton, as well as phytoplankton. There have been no verified records of this species since it was described in 1960. It is exploited as a food fish and artisanal fishing using beach seines which are still widely used in the Nkhata Bay area, the only locality for this species, and these activities are the most serious threat to this species, if it is still extant.
Copadichromis pleurostigma is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is occurs throughout the lake and therefore is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Copadichromis pleurostigmoides is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is found throughout the lake in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This species is found inshore in both rocky and sandy areas. It breeds from April to August when the males defend spawning sites situated on top of flat rocks at depths of 20–40 metres (66–131 ft) in sediment rich areas of mixed rocks and soft substrates.
Copadichromis quadrimaculatus is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is found throughout the lake in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Copadichromis sp. 'Virginalis Kajose' is a formally undescribed species of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania, primarily in Lake Malawi. It is also present in the adjoining, recently formed Lake Malombe. It is abundant in parts of Lake Malawi and in Lake Malombe as well, in shallow waters, and has been a regionally important species for fisheries in both lakes.
Copadichromis trewavasae is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is widespread in the Lake, and so occurs in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is often found in areas rich in sediment where muddy deposits cover the underlying substrate, It feeds by picking out particles from the water column. This species of Copadichromis is named after noted ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas.
Verduya's hap is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it has a lake wide range and so is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This species occurs in open water, sometimes forming large shoals.
Copadichromis verduyni is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found on the eastern shore and in the south eastern arm of the lake. It occurs in Malawi and Mozambique. This species inhabits the interface between sandy areas and rocky areas. Of all its congeners, this species defends the most cryptic spawning sites, these are found at depths of 9–15 metres (30–49 ft). The females and non-territorial males feed on plankton caught 1–3 metres (3.3–9.8 ft) above the lake bed and also on benthic invertebrates. Konings named this species after the Dutch cichlid dealer Dirk Verduyn (1942-2018).
Copadichromis virginalis is a species of haplochromine cichlid, which is endemic to Lake Malawi the upper Shire River and to Lake Malombe. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The population has shown signs of a severe decline and is under pressure from overfishing for food, in 2018 this led to the IUCN changing its status from Data Deficient to Near Threatened.