Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Maylandia: In honour of Hans J. Mayland, German ictiologist (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Hans-Joachim Mayland (1928–2004) was a German ichthyologist, aquarist, photographer and writer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19; depth range 6 - 28 m. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 1672); 8°S - 15°S
Africa: Lake Malawi in Malawi (Ref. 5595, 27596), including Likoma Island and Chizumulu Island (Ref. 5595).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5684)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 6 - 9. Diagnosis: The moderately sloped head, swollen rostral tip of the neurocranium, isognathous jaws, and the presence of bicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the jaws place this species in Maylandia (Ref. 27596). The absence of any interrupted pigment in the pale blue dorsal fin in combination with black bars on a blue ground colour distinguish this species from all other members of the genus (Ref. 27596).
Found in rocky areas which may be sediment-free and shallow or sediment-rich at somewhat deeper levels. Feeds at right angles with the substrate by combing loose material from the biocover. Also feeds on plankton in the open water (Ref. 5595).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Produces up to 60 eggs.
Stauffer, J.R. Jr., N.J. Bowers, K.A. Kellogg and K.R. McKaye, 1997. A revision of the blue-black Pseudotropheus zebra (Teleostei: Cichlidae) complex from Lake Malawi, Africa, with a description of a new genus and ten new species. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 148:189-230. (Ref. 27596)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquarium: highly commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00674 - 0.03099), b=2.99 (2.82 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.3 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
