A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi

@article{Ribbink1983APS,
  title={A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi},
  author={Anthony J. Ribbink and Beverley A. Marsh and Alan Clive Marsh and A. C. Ribbink and B. J. Sharp},
  journal={African Zoology},
  year={1983},
  volume={18},
  pages={149-156}
}
Most aquarium fishes exported from Lake Malawi are cichlids of 10 rock-frequenting genera collectively referred to by their Chitonga name, Mbuna. These fishes provide a classical example of intralacustrine allopatric speciation. The distribution of 196 species is given with notes on habitat preferenda, depth distribution and behaviour. Considerable emphasis is placed on coloration and markings for identification and it is argued that they are important for mate recognition. Brief notes are… 
View via Publisher
410 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
64
Background Citations
174
Methods Citations
14
Results Citations
12

410 Citations

The Cichlid Fish Assemblages of Lake Tanganyika: Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution of its Species Flocks

Evaluating Biodiversity and Conserving Lake Malawi’s Cichlid Fish Fauna

The results indicate that the genus level may be the appropriate taxonomic designation to consider for conservation purposes, and that areas of high generic endemism, such as the Muleri Islands, are significant for conservation.

Evolutionary and Conservation Biology of Cichlid Fishes as Revealed by Faunal Remnants in Northern Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria until recently harbored the world’s second richest lacustrine fish assemblage, but it is now experiencing a mass extinction. Here we report on the current status of the endemic cichlid…

How many species of cichlid fishes are there in African lakes?

This review presents recent findings on the discoveries of new species and species flocks and critically appraises the relevant evidence on species richness from recent studies of polymorphism and assortative mating, generally using behavioural and molecular methods.

The zoogeography, ecology and taxonomy of the genus Labeotropheus Ahl, 1927, of Lake Malawi (Pisces: Cichlidae)

A field and laboratory study showed that L. fuelleborni differed from L. trewavasae morphologically, in coloration, in geographic distribution, preferred habitat and ability to penetrate depth, which suggests that intralacustrine allopatric speciation may account for much of the species diversity of cichlids of rocky zones.

Changes in demersal cichlid communities as a result of trawling in southern Lake Malaŵi

Many of the endemic cichlids of Lake Malawi have low fecundities and restricted distributions within the lake (Fryer and Iles, 1972; Ribbink et al., 1983). Consequently, they may be particularly…

Species abundance and distribution of mbuna in Lake Malawi National Park and other areas of Lake Malawi.

Introduction The cichlids of Lake Malawi are internationally recognized as an outstanding example of rapid speciation, with a potential to provide greater insght into the understanding of…

Feeding-site utilization in three sympatric species of Petrotilapia (Pisces, Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi

Three sympatric sibling species of Petrotilapia, with similar dietary and macrohabitat requirements, occur near Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, and it is suggested that feeding-site utilization is dependent on social rank.

The feeding habits of a group of herbivorous rock-dwelling cichlid fishes (Cichlidae: Perciformes) from Lake Malawi, Africa

  • P. Reinthal
  • Environmental Science
    Environmental Biology of Fishes
  • 2004
Investigation of the feeding; habits of a group of tropical herbivorous rock-dwelling cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi, Africa, finds diet was correlated with foraging behavior and trophic morphology and could possibly facilitate ecological coexistence among various species.

The mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi: a model for rapid speciation and adaptive radiation

There is no good evidence for monophyly in the mbuna, rather mitochondrial DNA phylogenies indicate that they are polyphlyetic with respect to benthic feeding cichlids of the genera Aulonocara, Alticorpus and some species of Lethrinops, and sexual selection acting on male colour seems the most plausible mechanism for initial species divergence.
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 65 REFERENCES

An Introduction To the Taxonomy and Morphology of the Haplochromine Cichlidae From Lake Victoria

The importance of identification for both fishery-biology, ecology and other biological research has been the main reason for writing this paper which introduces the techniques applied in the taxonomy of the haplochromine Cichlidae from Lake Victoria.

The zoogeography, ecology and taxonomy of the genus Labeotropheus Ahl, 1927, of Lake Malawi (Pisces: Cichlidae)

A field and laboratory study showed that L. fuelleborni differed from L. trewavasae morphologically, in coloration, in geographic distribution, preferred habitat and ability to penetrate depth, which suggests that intralacustrine allopatric speciation may account for much of the species diversity of cichlids of rocky zones.

Preliminary Comparisons Between the Ecology of the Haplochromine Cichlid Fishes of Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi

The most notable difference between the two species flocks is that many species from Lake Malawi have restricted distributions within the lake whereas there is, as yet, no evidence for this in Lake Victoria.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO EVOLUTIONARY SUCCESS AS EXHIBITED BY AFRICAN CICHLID FISHES OF THE GENUS TILAPIA AND THE SPECIES FLOCKS OF THE GREAT LAKES

  • G. FryerT. D. Iles
  • Biology
    Evolution; international journal of organic evolution
  • 1969
The ecological generalization of Tilapia has largely precluded speciation in the great lakes: the diverse super-specializations of many members of the great species flocks have played an important part in their exploitation and sharing of a diversity of habitats and resources and in the ability of many species to co-exist in a single community.

VI.—A synopsis of the Cichlid Fishes of Lake Nyasa

The Cichlid Fishes of Nyasa were revised in 1 9 g b y Regan (Proc. Zool. Jh. Soc. Lond. 1921), who increased the number of described species from 38 to 84, which is fortunate in possessing the types of all those species.

A revision of the genus Docimodus Boulenger (Pisces: Cichlidae), a group of fishes with unusual feeding habits from Lake Malawi

Examination of stomach contents reveal that D. johnstonii feeds mainly upon the fins of clariid catfishing and D. evelynae upon the flank scales of cichlids or cyprinids and the skin of catfishes, suggesting the latter are more abundant than their low catches would suggest.

An introduction to ecological and taxonomic investigations on the haplochromine cichlids from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria.

The ecology and taxonomy of the haplochromine cichlids from the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria (East Africa) have been studied by the Haplochromis Ecology Survey Team (HEST), which resulted in the recognition of 150+ new species.

Sibling species complexes in sympatric populations of Petrotilapia Trewavas (Cichlidae, Lake Malawi)

The endemic Lake Malawi cichlid, Petrotilapia tridentiger Trewavas, was found to be a complex of sibling species, separable on the basis of differences in adult coloration, size at maturity, depth distribution, size and degree of overlap of territories, aggression and courtship.

Changes in the Size Structure of Cichlid Populations of Lake Malaŵi Resulting from Bottom Trawling

A bottom trawl fishery, primarily for cichlids, was started in 1968 in southern Lake Malaŵi. Since then a dramatic change has occurred in the catch of cichlids from one dominated by large species to…

Melanochromis Crabro Sp. Nov.: a Cichlid Fish From Lake Malawi Which Feeds On Ectoparasites and Catfish Eggs

Melanochromis crabro sp. nov., a member of the "Mbuna" group, is described from Lake Malawi. It feeds upon a variety of foods, but appears to be adapted to feed on Argulus africanus, a branchiuran…
...