Copadichromis chrysonotus

Copadichromis chrysonotus

Copadichromis chrysonotus was first described by Boulenger in 1908.

Biotope

This species can be found throughout Lake Malawi. They inhabit open waters in sheltered bays. They only swim above the rocks just below the water surface.

Diet

In the wild, Copadichromis chrysonotus feeds on plankton floating in the water.

Breeding Copadichromis chrysonotus

This is the only Utaka that does not reproduce on the substrate. Copadichromis chrysonotus mates in open water. The mating ritual looks just like mating on the sand or rocks. However, the eggs are now released into the open water and immediately taken in the mouth of the female. The male only fertilizes the eggs when the female already has the eggs in her mouth.

Author

John de Lange

Copyright images

Adrian Lisowski

References

Back to Nature Gids voor Malawi Cichliden – Ad Konings