Maylandia xanstomachus (Stauffer & Boltz, 1989)

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  12.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Maleri Islands and Kanjedza Island in Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 16-18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-8; Vertebrae: 26-30. Pelvic fins black anteriorly fading to yellow-brown posteriorly; anal fun blue. Males with 3-5 yellow ocelli on anal fin (Ref. 5595). Gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 9-12; gill rakers on first epibranchial 2-3 (Ref. 27596).
Biology:  Adults inhabit the sediment-free rocky habitat, usually at exposed sites. Feed from the biocover on the rocks by combing loose material from the aufwuchs (Ref. 5595). Mouthbrooding by females (Ref. 53335).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 (B1a+2a) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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