Gephyrochromis lawsi

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Gephyrochromis lawsi
Gephyrochromis lawsi.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
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]

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References

  1. 1 2 Konings, A.; Kazembe, J.; Makocho, P. (2018). "Gephyrochromis lawsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T60935A47223814. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T60935A47223814.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Gephyochromis lawsi" in FishBase . June 2018 version.
  3. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 6 December 2018.