Utaka
image:Copadichromis_azureus.jpg, ''Copadichromis azureus'', one of the utaka of Lake Malawi in Africa Utaka is the term used for open water-dwelling cichlids found in Lake Malawi, the most diverse source of cichlids in the world of aquaria. Among others, they comprise all the members of the genera ''Copadichromis'' and ''Mchenga''. They are the opposite niche from the mbuna, the more common type of Malawi cichlid that dwells among rocks along the lake's fringes and bottom. Unlike mbuna, which are generally colorful from birth, utaka tend to be very neutral in color -- mostly greys -- until they reach adulthood, because their free-swimming nature leaves them more vulnerable to predation. They are highly sexually dimorphic; the females of the genre tend to remain bland in coloration, while the males often become spectacularly colorful, leading to common names like "peacock cichlid." References {{reflist See also *List of freshwater aquarium fish species Cichlid fish of A ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is the fifth largest fresh water lake in the world by volume, the ninth largest lake in the world by area—and the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa. Lake Malawi is home to more species of fish than any other lake in the world, including at least 700 species of cichlids.Turner, Seehausen, Knight, Allender, and Robinson (2001). "How many species of cichlid fishes are there in African lakes?" ''Molecular Ecology'' 10: 793–806. The Mozambique portion of the lake was officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique on June 10, 2011,WWF (10 June 2011)"Mozambique’s Lake Niassa declared reserve and Ramsar site"Retrieved 17 July 2014. while in Malawi a portion of the lake is included in Lake Malawi National Park. Lake Malawi is a meromic ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Mbuna
Mbuna (pronounced Mmm-boo - nah ) is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine family. The name ''mbuna'' means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi.Loiselle Paul V. (1988) ''A Fishkeepers Guide to African Cichlids.'' p 97. Salamander Books, London & New York, . As the name implies, most mbuna are cichlids that live among the piles of rocks and along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids that live in the open water or on sandy shores or soft substrates. Some species of mbuna are highly sexually dimorphic, although many are not. Among biologists, almost all of the cichlid species of Lake Malawi, including mbuna and non mbuna such as the utaka, are believed to have descended from one or a very few species that became isolated in the lake. With rising water levels, new habitats could be colonized and the many isolated rocky outcrops allowed new mbuna species to form.G ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Cichlid
Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. 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 both large and diverse. 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. Many cichlids, particularly tilapia, are important food fishes, while others, such as the ''Cichla'' species, are valued game fish. The family also includes many popular freshwater aquariu ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Copadichromis
''Copadichromis'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. ''Copadichromis'' are part of a group known as utaka and are popular with aquarists, as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity compared to the mbuna. Species There are currently 25 recognized species in this genus: * '' Copadichromis atripinnis'' Stauffer & Te. Sato, 2002 * '' Copadichromis azureus'' Konings, 1990 * '' Copadichromis borleyi'' ( Iles, 1960) (redfin hap, goldfin hap) * '' Copadichromis chizumuluensis'' Stauffer & Konings, 2006 * '' Copadichromis chrysonotus'' ( Boulenger, 1908) * '' Copadichromis cyaneus'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Copadichromis cyanocephalus'' Stauffer & Konings, 2006 * '' Copadichromis diplostigma'' Stauffer & Konings, 2006 * '' Copadichromis geertsi'' Konings, 1999 * '' Copadichromis ilesi'' Konings, 1999 * '' Copadichromis insularis'' Stauffer & Konings, 2006 * '' Copadichromis jacksoni'' ( Iles, 1960) * '' Copadichromis likomae'' ( Iles, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Mchenga
''Mchenga'' is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are part of a group known as utaka. Species There are currently six recognized species in this genus: * '' Mchenga conophoros'' ( Stauffer, LoVullo & McKaye, 1993) * '' Mchenga cyclicos'' ( Stauffer, LoVullo & McKaye, 1993) * '' Mchenga eucinostomus'' (Regan The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient Gaelic ''ri'' ..., 1922) * '' Mchenga flavimanus'' ( Iles, 1960) * '' Mchenga inornata'' ( Boulenger, 1908) * '' Mchenga thinos'' ( Stauffer, LoVullo & McKaye, 1993) References Haplochromini * Cichlid genera Taxa named by Jay Richard Stauffer Jr. Taxa named by Ad Konings {{Cichlidae-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Fish Of Lake Malawi
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of living fish species are ray-finned fish, belonging to the class Actinopterygii, with around 99% of those being teleosts. The earliest organisms that can be classified as fish were soft-bodied chordates that first appeared during the Cambrian period. Although they lacked a true spine, they possessed notochords which allowed them to be more agile than their invertebrate counterparts. Fish would continue to evolve through the Paleozoic era, diversifying into a wide variety of forms. Many fish of the Paleozoic developed external armor that protected them from predators. The first fish with jaws appeared in the Silurian period, after which many (such as sharks) became formidable marine predators rather than just the prey of arthropods. Mos ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Copadichromis Azureus
''Copadichromis azureus'' is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi where it is found in the country of Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast .... References Endemic fauna of Malawi azureus Taxa named by Ad Konings Fish described in 1990 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fish of Malawi Fish of Lake Malawi {{Cichlidae-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Peacock Cichlid
''Aulonocara'' is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All ''Aulonocara'' species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, ''Aulonocara'' species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks". This genus is strongly sexually dichromic, even by haplochromine standards. As aquarium fish, they are best kept with other medium-sized nonaggressive cichlids from Lake Malawi. All peacock cichlids are known to be less aggressive than their Mbuna counterparts, and thrive in warmer waters that have a slightly basic pH. Species The 22 recognized species in this genus are: * '' Aulonocara aquilonium'' Konings, 1995 * '' Aulonocara auditor'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Aulonocara baenschi'' M. K. Meyer & Riehl, 1985 (nkhomo-benga peacock) * '' Aulonocara brevinidus'' Konings, 1995 * '' Aulonocara brevirostre'' ( Trewavas, 1935) * '' Aulonocara ethelwynnae'' M. K. Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 (Chitande aul ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
List Of Freshwater Aquarium Fish Species
A vast number of aquatic species have successfully adapted to live in the freshwater aquarium. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums. Catfish Characins and other characiformes Cichlids Cyprinids Loaches and related cypriniformes Live-bearers and killifish Labyrinth fish Rainbowfish Gobies and sleepers Sunfish and relatives Other fish See also * List of aquarium fish by scientific name *List of brackish aquarium fish species *List of fish common names * List of freshwater aquarium amphibian species *List of freshwater aquarium invertebrate species *List of freshwater aquarium plant species * List of marine aquarium fish species * List of marine aquarium invertebrate species * The Aquarium Wiki Encyclopaedia List of Freshwater aquarium fish Sources * Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish (2005) ( David Alderton) * 500 Aquari ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Cichlid Fish Of Africa
This is a list of African cichlid species that are commonly kept by aquarist An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...s. Another African cichlid is a Frontosa (Cyphotilapia frontosa) which is commonly found in Lake Tanganyika. It grows to about 10-14 inches has minimal aggression and is stripy. References {{reflist ' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |