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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Greenwoodochromis abeelei (unknown locality)<br><font color=gray>Limnochromis abeelei (unknown locality)</font>
Tribe / Genus: Limnochromini / Greenwoodochromis
Type locality: Between Cape Bwana Denge and Moni, Lake Tanganyika.
Biotope: Deep muddy habitats. Typically occurs below 40–60 m depth; specimens from the type series were collected at 50–125 m and the species may extend down to 200–215 m, near the lower limit of the oxygenated zone.
Geographic distribution: Lake Tanganyika. Originally collected between Cape Bwana Denge and Moni (DR Congo) and Karema (Tanzania). Also reported from Zambia and Burundi, suggesting a lake-wide distribution.
Typical adult size: At least 23.5 cm TL; likely grows larger in aquarium conditions.
Sexual dimorphism: Very weak. Males tend to grow slightly larger than females, as typical for biparental mouthbrooders.
Recommended aquarium size: Minimum tank length 150 cm for a single pair.
Aquarium setup: A large aquarium with extensive sandy substrate and numerous shelters formed by rocks and pipes. The species benefits from a complex structure that allows retreat and reduces aggression during pair formation.
Diet: Carnivorous. Juveniles feed on large shrimps and small fish; adults are primarily piscivorous. In aquaria, offer fish, shrimps and mussels.
Breeding: Biparental mouthbrooder. Spawning has not yet been documented, but breeding mode is inferred with high certainty from related species.
Aggression: Highly aggressive and predatory, especially during pair formation. Robust tankmates may be used to diffuse aggression, provided sufficient shelter is available.
Special notes: Greenwoodochromis abeelei differs from its closest relative Greenwoodochromis staneri by a more elongate body, higher scale count, larger eye, and fin pattern. Unlike G. staneri, which shows many small oscillated blue spots on unpaired fins, G. abeelei has fewer, larger blue spots restricted mainly to the dorsal fin and upper caudal fin, with a distinctive black margin on the lower half of the caudal fin.

In aquaria, this species is noticeably more active and swims higher off the bottom than related limnochromines, likely reflecting its specialization as an active piscivorous hunter rather than a substrate-oriented feeder.

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Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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