Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago. The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by volume, and the second-deepest, in all cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is the world's longest freshwater lake. The lake is shared among four countries—Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Zambia. With Tanzania (46%) and DRC (40%) possessing the majority of the lake. It drains into the Congo River system and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.
Neolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard's lamprologus. In addition, the species is also the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. It is closely related to N. pulcher from the southern half of Lake Tanganyika and some have recommended merging the two into a single species.
Variabilichromis moorii has no common name and is a species of freshwater cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. It is a small ovate bodied fish named for an early collector of fish from the lake, John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947) who was a cytologist, zoologist and led an expedition to Lake Tanganyika and who discovered this species. Juveniles are usually yellow, and adults are dark brown to black in color. It reaches a total length (TL) of 10.3 centimetres (4.1 in). Currently it is the only member of its genus. V. moorii feeds on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates. It is also found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus brevis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it lives in snail shells, primarily of the genus Neothauma. It feeds is on plankton. This species can reach a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. The males are much larger than the females and can be identified even at a young age.
Neolamprologus multifasciatus is one of the small shell-dwelling cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The male reaches 5 cm (2 in) in length, and the female only 2.5 cm (1 in) in the aquarium. In the wild, they reach only 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in standard length of male and female reaches less than 2.2 centimetres (0.87 in) in standard length. This makes them one of the smallest cichlid species in the world. Its natural habitat is the Neothauma shell beds of Lake Tanganyika, where it forms huge colonies with thousands of individuals. Their unique behavior is associated with their affinity to shells. They burrow sand to move shells, take refuge in shells and also breed in them. They have pale white coloring with black vertical bars running the length of their bodies. The species is sexually monomorphic, meaning sexing individuals is extremely hard or impossible based on external appearance alone.
Neolamprologus leleupi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs throughout the lake. It is a recess-dweller, inhabiting cracks and crevices. It feeds on invertebrates living in the rich biocover of the substrate. This species reaches a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. The color of this fish ranges from bright yellow to deep brown. Both color variations exist at each location where this species is found. This relatively small cichlid is a substrate spawner. It is easily confused with the very similar N. longior a fish also endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The specific name honours the Belgian entomologist Narcisse Leleup (1912-2001), who collected the type.
The zebra mbuna is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm (4.4 in). It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks. This cichlid is a mouthbrooder and the female broods the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks. This fish can sometimes be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus falcicula is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is only known from the waters off Burundi. The yype locality is the Magara coast of Burundi, at a depth of ten meters. This species can reach a length of 8.1 centimetres (3.2 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus fasciatus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species spawns in empty snail shells. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. They are piscivores and their prey includes the cichlid fish Variabilichromis moorii.
Neolamprologus furcifer is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers to live solitatirily in lightless cracks, crevices, caves, etc. where it feed on other organisms that also dwell in that habitat. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade, where it is a highly sought-after species.
Neolamprologus longior is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika and found at Kabogo Point and Kibwe Bay. This species can reach a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus modestus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it lives on rocky substrates in the southern portion of the lake. It breeds in areas with sandy substrates. Generally eating small snails, it also specializes on eating the eggs of Lamprichthys tanganicanus, a species of killifish. Males of this species can reach a length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) TL while the females only grow to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus mustax is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species reaches a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Individuals are yellow in color and thus resemble juveniles of another cichlid species, Variabilichromis moorii, which may provide N. mustax with greater access to V. moorii feeding territories.
Neolamprologus niger is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is only found along the northern shores. It is a crevice-dweller and feeds on molluscs. This species reaches a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus pulcher is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers locations with plenty of sedimentation. The common names for N. pulcher include daffodil cichlid, fairy cichlid, princess of Zambia and lyretail cichlid. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus is a species of cichlid fish that is endemic to the southern half of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. It mainly eats snails, and its pharyngeal bones and teeth are adapted to this hard-shelled prey.
The fourspine cichlid is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it lives in areas with sandy substrates. In addition to feeding on other fishes and insect larvae, this species is specialized to suck molluscs from their shells. This species can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Neolamprologus tretocephalus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is found in sandy areas in the northern half of the lake. It is a predator on molluscs. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Vertebrate maternal behavior is a form of parental care that is specifically given to young animals by their mother in order to ensure the survival of the young. Parental care is a form of altruism, which means that the behaviors involved often require a sacrifice that could put their own survival at risk. This encompasses behaviors that aid in the evolutionary success of the offspring and parental investment, which is a measure of expenditure exerted by the parent in an attempt to provide evolutionary benefits to the offspring. Therefore, it is a measure of the benefits versus costs of engaging in the parental behaviors. Behaviors commonly exhibited by the maternal parent include feeding, either by lactating or gathering food, grooming young, and keeping the young warm. Another important aspect of parental care is whether the care is provided to the offspring by each parent in a relatively equal manner, or whether it is provided predominantly or entirely by one parent. There are several species that exhibit biparental care, where behaviors and/or investment in the offspring is divided equally amongst the parents. This parenting strategy is common in birds. However, even in species who exhibit biparental care, the maternal role is essential since the females are responsible for the incubation and/or delivery of the young.
