''Tropheus duboisi'', the white spotted cichlid, is a species of cichlid

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to Lake Tanganyika. It can reach a length of .

Distribution and habitat

The species is found only in Lake Tanganyika, restricted to rocky substrates (rubble or slabs) in the northern portion of the lake. It occurs to a depth of 30 m. Three subpopulations are distinguished in different parts of the lake: "Maswa", "Karilani Island", and "Kigoma".

Ecology

''T. duboisi'' cichlids feed on the algae growing on the rocky substrate they frequent. The species engages in

mouth-brooding Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a va ...

; eggs are hatched in the mother's mouth, and young fish use it as shelter for some time after hatching.

Conservation

The species is classified as vulnerable due to their small estimated population size (a few thousand) and restricted distribution. It is heavily in demand in the aquarium trade, and likely impacted to some degree by increases in sedimentation in its natural habitat.

Etymology

The specific name honours the collector of the type, the

limnologist Limnology ( ; from Greek λίμνη, ''limne'', "lake" and λόγος, ''logos'', "knowledge") is the study of inland aquatic ecosystems. The study of limnology includes aspects of the biological, chemical, physical, and geological characterist ...

Jean Dubois, who was Marlier's colleague.

Distribution and habitat

Ecology

Conservation

Etymology

See also

References

Further reading