Ryan Photographic - Cichlidae - Cichlids

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.

Fishes

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