Copadichromis trewavasae

Copadichromis trewavasae is an endemic cichlid from Lake Malawi in East Africa. Like all Malawichichliden he is one of the mouthbrooders. It is named after the ichthyologist Ethelwynn Trewavas.

Occurrence

The species is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, especially on the Mozambican coast in the area around the islands of Likoma and Chizumulu. The fish live in the transition zone between sandy and rocky habitats in water depths between 10 and 30 m.

Features

Males reach a total length of 10.5 cm, females have a 8.3 cm. During the breeding season, the underside of the body and the head of the males turn black. The rest of the body, above the lateral line is blue or light blue whitish. Females have a gray head with silvery gill covers and edges. There are three black spots on their sides. You can hardly be distinguished from the females by verduyni Copadichromis.

On the premaxilla and the mandible the fish take 2 to 4 rows of teeth, the teeth of the outer rows are bicuspid and not uniform. In the females and immature males, the teeth of the inner rows are unicuspid or tricuspid.

Fins formula: Dorsal XV-XVII/9-12, Anal III/8-9.

Way of life

The males are territorial, females live in small groups with usually more than ten animals. The fish will stay in the vicinity of the substrate. The cichlids feed on plankton and bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Like all cichlids of Lake Malawi is Copadichromis trewavasae a ovophiler mouthbrooders.