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Family Cichlidae

According to a Wikipedia article there are 1650 species of described cichlid. They have a primarily Gondwanan distribution, although they are not native to Australia or New Zealand. Their greatest diversity is centered around the African Rift Valley lakes, especially in Lake Malawi where over 800 species are found, supposedly all evolved from one common ancestor.

Many have become favorites in the freshwater fish trade and include iconic species such as the oscar, discus, angelfish and the Jack Dempsey. Several species, most notably those referred to as Tilapia are important food fishes. Many, if not all, of the Rift Valley cichlids are mouth brooders, typically protecting both eggs and young in the mouth of the female, but in some species the male may also take on this role. Not surprisingly, in vew of their widespread speciation in Lake Malawi, the Lake Malawi cichlids tend to specialize and their niche is apparently quite narrow. Some specialize on eating snails, others scrape the "aufwuchs" (periphyton and associated mterial) off rocks. From my own dives in Lake Malawi I conclude that the most widely available food in this very low productivity lake is other fish fecal material!

Cichlids possess pharyngeal teeth which effectively gives them a second set of jaws.

As there are no inexpensive books on the Lake Malawi cichlids I have not yet been able to identify any of the fish seen below. Any identifications would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1770 Lake Malawi.

cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1776 Male cichlid over courtship mound, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid courtship mound, Lake Malawi

FISH 1713 Courtship mound of the cichlid above, Lake Malawi.

Lake Malawi cichlid at night

FISH 1620 Cichlid photographed at night, Lake Malawi.

Male cichlid with egg spots on anal fin, Lake Malawi

FISH 1789 Male cichlid with egg spots on anal fin, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1790 Same species as above, Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Lake Malawi cichlid

FISH 1797 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1801 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Lake Malawi cichlid grazing on periphyton

FISH 1840 Cichlid grazing on periphyton, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1855 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi - is this the same species as above?

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1772 Cichlid Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1779 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1795 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1804 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi

cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1813 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1816 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1821 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1822 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1828 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1833 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1836 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1837 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi

Cichlid Lake Malawi

Fish 1857 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi - same species as above I think.

cichlid lake malawi

FISH 1844 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1855 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi. Same species as above?

cichlid lake Malawi

FISH 1847 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawi

FISH 1850 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1852 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1854 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1865 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1871 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1890 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1892 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1895 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid, Lake Malawai

FISH 1788 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi. This and the two photos above may be the same species.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1896 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1899 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

Cichlid Lake Malawi

FISH 1781 Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi.

 

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