| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Max. size: |
29.8 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7.5 - 8.19999980926514; depth range 30 - 109 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. |
| Diagnosis: |
Diagnosis: large, big-toothed brownish species; eyes rather large; premaxillary pedicel relatively short (Ref. 55949).
Description: mouth and eyes rather large; often with decurved snout; lower jaw moderately to strongly protruding; larger specimens tend to have an arched back and a flabby, rather rounded lower profile; premaxillary pedicel bone variable in length, usually shorter than in similary-sized R. woodi; teeth fairly strong and slender but variable (Ref. 55949).
Coloration: females and non-breeding males countershaded, dark grey-brown dorsally; overal brownish cast especially marked in juveniles; caudal fin dark grey; pelvic fins sometimes long; sexually mature and ripe males with orange, females with white pelvic fins; throat may be flushed with orange or may be white (Ref. 55949). |
| Biology: |
Common on the shelf zone; occasionally found off reefs; but not commonly recorded from the middle of the lake (Ref. 55949). Moves in the open water but stays 2-5 m above the substrate; feeds on fish like the small Utaka and Usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) (Ref. 5595). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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