Gephyrochromis lawsi | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Gephyrochromis |
Species: | G. lawsi |
Binomial name | |
Gephyrochromis lawsi Fryer, 1957 | |
Gephyrochromis lawsi is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to the northern part of Lake Malawi in Malawi and Tanzania. [2] This species is normally found at deep levels where the steep, rocky coastlines meet sand substrates where it prefers patches of sand at average depths of around 20 metres (66 ft). [2] They feed mainly on loose aufwuchs. The males are weakly territorial and will defend their territories against intruderswhile the females are solitary. It may be threatened by overfishing by fishermen using beach seine nets, although it is a bycatch rather than one of the target species, it is sometimes collected for the aquarium trade. [1] The specific name honours the Scottish missionary Robert Laws (1851-1934). [3]
Cyrtocara moorii, commonly known as the hump-head, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa where they prefer areas with sandy substrates. It can grow to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the hump-head cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).
Alticorpus peterdaviesi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Malawi. It is found in the southern part of the lake, in areas where the substrate consists of "diatom ooze" and diatoms probably form the major part of its diet.
Aristochromis christyi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, which is endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. It is the only known member of its genus.
The nkhomo-benga peacock, also known as the new yellow regal peacock, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species is threatened by capture for the aquarium trade.
The Chitande aulonocara is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, only occurring in the north-west of the Lake near Chitande Island. It occurs over habitats of mixed rock and sand and it feeds on benthic invertebrates. The males show territorial behaviour all year and defend their territories from other males. These territorial males are found in deeper areas around 15 metres (49 ft) while the non territorial males and the females are rarely seen below 3 metres (9.8 ft). Ripe females descend towards the males and spawning takes place in a cavity or, if the male's territory does not include a cavity, on the open sand. The specific name honours the British ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas (1900-1993) of the British Museum who described a number of species of cichlid from Lake Malawi.
Aulonocara gertrudae is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi, being found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The habitat varies between populations, those south of the Ruhuhu River are sand dwellers which exploit the sandy muddy substrates found near river mouths, while those to the north of the Ruhuhu will occupy rocky habitats too. This is thought to be cause there are fewer rock inhabiting congeners north of the Ruhuhu. The territorial males of this species excavate a burrow in the sand or they may use a cavity formed in a rocky area, especially in the northern populations. The females are found in small foraging groups in the vicinity of the males. The specific name honours Konings' wife, Gertrude Dubin.
Aulonocara guentheri is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi, where they are restricted to the south eastern arm, and Lake Malombe, meaning that as far as is known this fish is endemic to Malawi. It prefers shallow sandy habitat where it forages in small schools, males in breeding colours have been caught by fishermen in November and December suggesting that is when they breed. The specific name honours the German born British herpetologist and ichthyologist Albert Günther (1830-1914), who was one of the first scientists to recognise the diversity of te cichlids in Lake Malawi.
The sulfurhead aulonocara or sulfurhead peacock is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi in the country of Malawi and has only been observed on West Reef and Eccles Reef. It is threatened by collection for the aquarium trade and this has caused a 70% reduction in numbers. In this mouthbrooding species, the eggs are cared for by the females only, and it is found over mixed sand and rocky areas where they hunt small invertebrates in the sand. It closely resembles the blue orchid aulonocara though it develops a yellow blaze across its dorsal In the past these two taxa have been considered to be subspecies. The specific name honours Hans-Joachim Mayland, an author on cichlids and a fishkeeper, brought the species to the attention of Ethelwynn Trewavas.
The greenface aulonocara is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi.
Aulonocara stonemani is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to the southeastern and southwestern arms of Lake Malawi.
Buccochromis rhoadesii is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River in the countries of Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Caprichromis liemi, the happy, is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to the Lake Malawi region, being also found in Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River. It occurs over sandy substrates but it frequently remains in midwater. This species is a specialised predator, a paedophage, which steals the broods from mouthbrooding female cichlids by ramming the brooding female's head from below. Examination of their stomach contents resulted in the recovery of eggs, larvae and fry only. The juveniles act a cleaner fish, and so may the adults. The males build "sand castle" spawning sites. The specific name honours the ichthyologist Karel F. Liem (1935-2009), in recognition of his studies of cichlids.
Cynotilapia axelrodi is a species haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs in Nkhata Bay and Chirombo Point, Malawi.
Diplotaxodon ecclesi is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in open water at mainly at the deeper levels, although it is rarely caught by trawling. Its main prey is the Lake Malawi sardine.
Diplotaxodon greenwoodi is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. It occurs in the reef and shelf zones of the lake where it preys on small cichlids. The specific name honours the English ichthyologist Peter Humphry Greenwood (1927-1995).
Gephyrochromis moorii is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where is found exclusively over open sand areas, where it lives in small groups numbering between three and seven individuals The males are not strictly territorial but defend feeding sites from other males. The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).
Labidochromis freibergi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known to occur around Likoma Island in areas with rocky substrates. This species grows to a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. The specific name of this species honours the American fish importer Jacob Freiberg.
Lethrinops stridei is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it occurs at depths of from 15 to 55 metres in areas with sandy substrates. This species grows to a length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) SL. The specific name honours Kenneth E. Stride, who introduced successful commercial trawling to Lake Malawi, and this species is now very rare in Lake Malawi and is threatened by overfishing by commercial trawlers.
Placidochromis hennydaviesae is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is only known from the southern portions of the lake. It is found in areas with muddy substrates at depths of from 71 to 100 metres. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL.
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, the eureka red peacock, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is also known as Freiberg's peacock or fairy cichlid. There are several colour morphs including red or yellow. They generally can grow to around 15 cm in length.