Diplotaxodon
Encyclopedia
Diplotaxodon is a small genus
of seven formally described, as well as a number of undescribed, deep-water species of cichlid
fish endemic to Lake Malawi
in east Africa
. These fishes represent a remarkable adaptive radiation of offshore and deep-water adapted fish descended from ancestral shallow water forms. They include the dominant zooplankton-feeding fish of the offshore and deep-water regions of the lake, as well as a number of larger species that appear to feed on small pelagic fishes. Adult sizes range from 10 to 30cm in total length, depending on species.
Females and immature fish are silvery, like typical pelagic fish, but mature males develop stronger breeding colours, typically contrasting patterns of black, white and yellow. Females of several species have been found carrying eggs and young in their mouths and it is likely that all species are maternal mouthbrooders, like all other known haplochromine cichlids. Males in breeding dress with ripe gonads are often collected together in large numbers, along with a few ripe and mouthbrooding females, suggesting that these fishes gather together to breed in particular areas. Most species seem to breed between February and August. Females lay very few eggs- ranging on average from 16 to 40 in species examined. However, the eggs are very large - around 5-7mm in diameter. In common with other offshore-living cichlid fishes, these have evolved to have fewer, but larger offspring, perhaps to increase their chances of surviving predation and starvation in the open water habitats. Unlike some other offshore cichlid fish, none of the Diplotaxodon species are known to use inshore nursery areas for their young, and their entire life-cycle seems to be completed in the open waters of the lake.
Molecular genetic studies suggest that Diplotaxodon species species are all closely related and are ancestral to the more benthic-feeding Pallidochromis tokolosh, which together comprise a monophyletic group or clade which has evolved within Lake Malawi. Population genetic studies indicate that similar-looking forms with different male breeding colours represent distinct species. In marked contrast to the better known rocky shore 'mbuna' cichlids which are split into many geographically isolated populations on particular islands or rocky coastal regions, molecular studies indicate that there are few barriers to the movement and interbreeding of Diplotaxodon populations within the lake. This lack of geographic barriers in the present lake has made scientists consider that their species might have diverged either by the controversial mechanism of sympatric speciation. Alternatively, they may have diverged into new species when major droughts led to Lake Malawi partially drying up and forming 2 or more much smaller lakes.
Diplotaxodon species are important food fish around the lake, being collected by a number of small-scale fishing methods, such as Chirimila seines and baited hooks, as well as by trawling. Although they represent a potentially very large fishery stock (100,000 tonnes), with a potentially sustainable fishery yield of around 20,000 tonnes, their populations are spread thinly in inaccessible deep-water and offshore habitats, making them difficult to exploit economically, although some seasonal fisheries seem to exploit them heavily on traditional breeding grounds. A single species (D. limnothrissa) has occasionally been collected and bred as an aquarium fish.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of seven formally described, as well as a number of undescribed, deep-water species of cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
fish endemic to Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in east Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. These fishes represent a remarkable adaptive radiation of offshore and deep-water adapted fish descended from ancestral shallow water forms. They include the dominant zooplankton-feeding fish of the offshore and deep-water regions of the lake, as well as a number of larger species that appear to feed on small pelagic fishes. Adult sizes range from 10 to 30cm in total length, depending on species.
Reproductive biology
Females and immature fish are silvery, like typical pelagic fish, but mature males develop stronger breeding colours, typically contrasting patterns of black, white and yellow. Females of several species have been found carrying eggs and young in their mouths and it is likely that all species are maternal mouthbrooders, like all other known haplochromine cichlids. Males in breeding dress with ripe gonads are often collected together in large numbers, along with a few ripe and mouthbrooding females, suggesting that these fishes gather together to breed in particular areas. Most species seem to breed between February and August. Females lay very few eggs- ranging on average from 16 to 40 in species examined. However, the eggs are very large - around 5-7mm in diameter. In common with other offshore-living cichlid fishes, these have evolved to have fewer, but larger offspring, perhaps to increase their chances of surviving predation and starvation in the open water habitats. Unlike some other offshore cichlid fish, none of the Diplotaxodon species are known to use inshore nursery areas for their young, and their entire life-cycle seems to be completed in the open waters of the lake.
Evolution and Population Genetics
Molecular genetic studies suggest that Diplotaxodon species species are all closely related and are ancestral to the more benthic-feeding Pallidochromis tokolosh, which together comprise a monophyletic group or clade which has evolved within Lake Malawi. Population genetic studies indicate that similar-looking forms with different male breeding colours represent distinct species. In marked contrast to the better known rocky shore 'mbuna' cichlids which are split into many geographically isolated populations on particular islands or rocky coastal regions, molecular studies indicate that there are few barriers to the movement and interbreeding of Diplotaxodon populations within the lake. This lack of geographic barriers in the present lake has made scientists consider that their species might have diverged either by the controversial mechanism of sympatric speciation. Alternatively, they may have diverged into new species when major droughts led to Lake Malawi partially drying up and forming 2 or more much smaller lakes.
Human Exploitation
Diplotaxodon species are important food fish around the lake, being collected by a number of small-scale fishing methods, such as Chirimila seines and baited hooks, as well as by trawling. Although they represent a potentially very large fishery stock (100,000 tonnes), with a potentially sustainable fishery yield of around 20,000 tonnes, their populations are spread thinly in inaccessible deep-water and offshore habitats, making them difficult to exploit economically, although some seasonal fisheries seem to exploit them heavily on traditional breeding grounds. A single species (D. limnothrissa) has occasionally been collected and bred as an aquarium fish.
Species
- Diplotaxodon aeneusDiplotaxodon aeneusDiplotaxodon aeneus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Turner & Stauffer, 1998 - Diplotaxodon apogonDiplotaxodon apogonDiplotaxodon apogon is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Turner & Stauffer, 1998 - Diplotaxodon argenteusDiplotaxodon argenteusDiplotaxodon argenteus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Trewavas, 1935 - Diplotaxodon ecclesiDiplotaxodon ecclesiDiplotaxodon ecclesi is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-Source:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Burgess & Axelrod, 1973 - Diplotaxodon greenwoodiDiplotaxodon greenwoodiDiplotaxodon greenwoodi is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Stauffer & McKaye, 1986 - Diplotaxodon limnothrissaDiplotaxodon limnothrissaDiplotaxodon limnothrissa is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Turner, 1994 - Diplotaxodon macropsDiplotaxodon macropsDiplotaxodon macrops is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Kasembe, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
Turner & Stauffer, 1998