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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Lamprologus sp. 'ornatipinnis congo' (DR Congo)
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini/Lamprologus
Biotope: Found at relatively great depth (30–45 m) in large, shallow crevices covered with sediment (sand, silt, mud). Only very few empty shells were present, usually of the genus Lavigeria, which are smaller than Neothauma shells. Females live inside these small shells, while males are unable to hide in shells and flee over the open substrate. The habitat was shared with cichlids of the genera Paracyprichromis and Cyprichromis, as well as Cyphotilapia gibberosa, Xenotilapia papilio, Lamprologus similis, Lamprologus pectoralis and Lamprologus ventralis.
Geographic distribution: Only known from the region where it was discovered in 1993 by Heinz Büscher, approximately 40 km south of Moba, around Tembwe Deux in Congo, in three different localities which were not given.
Typical adult size: In the natural habitat, males reach up to 96 mm in total length. Females remain much smaller, with a maximum size of about 33 mm total length.
Sexual dimorphism: Extremely pronounced size dimorphism. Females are minute compared to males and show a plain beige-grey coloration. Males of 96 mm total length weigh approximately 10 grams, while females of 33 mm weigh about 0.5 grams.
Diet: No data available. It is suggested to be an invertebrate or plankton picker, as in many lamprologines.
Breeding: A shell-dwelling species in which only females can hide inside the rare empty shells found in the habitat. No harem was observed in the natural habitat, but polygyny occurs in captivity, as in many lamprologines.
Special notes: This species is known in the source text as exLamprologus sp. 'aff. ornatipinnis', but the name used here follows the user’s convention: Lamprologus sp. 'ornatipinnis congo'. It is described as a rather large shell-dwelling lamprologine, reportedly belonging to the “ossified group”, with semi-rounded pelvic fins (the longest rays are not the first ones), and is considered similar to Lamprologus ornatipinnis but larger and with less adorned fins. It is also reminiscent of a smaller version of Lamprologus callipterus due to its striking size dimorphism, though females are plain grey-beige and the head is shorter, with markedly smaller overall size.

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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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