Nimbochromis
Encyclopedia
Nimbochromis is a small genus
of haplochromine
cichlid
s endemic to Lake Malawi
in East Africa
. They are known as sleeper cichlids or (in Chichewa) kaligono ("sleepers"), due to their unique hunting behaviour.
These piscivorous species are often seen lying motionless on the lake bottom near rocks where mbuna
live, even adopting an unusual sideways position rarely seen in living fish. If smaller fishes approach, the Nimbochromis will "wake up" and try to seize them. Their coloration has an irregular dark cloudy pattern on ligher background; for one thing, this provides camouflage
, but it is also suspected that it is – at least in some – evolving into aggressive mimicry
by imitating a rotting fish carcass
and thus luring scavenger
s to their demise.
Nimbochromis currently contains five species
:
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 haplochromine
Haplochromine
The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern and southern Africa...
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...
s 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:...
. They are known as sleeper cichlids or (in Chichewa) kaligono ("sleepers"), due to their unique hunting behaviour.
These piscivorous species are often seen lying motionless on the lake bottom near rocks where mbuna
Mbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi...
live, even adopting an unusual sideways position rarely seen in living fish. If smaller fishes approach, the Nimbochromis will "wake up" and try to seize them. Their coloration has an irregular dark cloudy pattern on ligher background; for one thing, this provides camouflage
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
, but it is also suspected that it is – at least in some – evolving into aggressive mimicry
Aggressive mimicry
Aggressive mimicry is a form of mimicry where predators, parasites or parasitoids share similar signals with a harmless model, allowing them to avoid being correctly identified by their prey or host...
by imitating a rotting fish carcass
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
and thus luring scavenger
Scavenger
Scavenging is both a carnivorous and herbivorous feeding behavior in which individual scavengers search out dead animal and dead plant biomass on which to feed. The eating of carrion from the same species is referred to as cannibalism. Scavengers play an important role in the ecosystem by...
s to their demise.
Nimbochromis currently contains five species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
:
- Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatusNimbochromis fuscotaeniatusThe Spothead Hap or Fuscotaeniatus Hap is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:...
– Spothead Hap, Fuscotaeniatus Hap - Nimbochromis linniNimbochromis linniNimbochromis linni is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.It is endemic to Lake Malawi, east Africa.-References:* Kazembe, J., Makocho, P. & Mailosi, A. 2005. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
- Nimbochromis livingstoniiNimbochromis livingstoniiNimbochromis livingstonii, Livingston's Cichlid or kalingono, is a freshwater mouthbrooding cichlid fish of the genus Nimbochromis, native to Lake Malawi, an African Rift Lake. It is also found in the upper Shire River and Lake Malombe...
– Livingston's Cichlid - Nimbochromis polystigmaNimbochromis polystigmaNimbochromis polystigma is one of five species of the Nimbochromis genus of Lake Malawi, in the Great Rift Valley system of Africa. Usually, it includes the dubious "species" N. maculimanus and N. pardalis. Some authors include N. polystigma in N...
- Nimbochromis venustusNimbochromis venustusNimbochromis venustus, commonly called Venustus Hap or Giraffe Hap, is a Haplochromine cichlid native to Lake Malawi in Africa. It prefers the deeper regions of Lake Malawi where it hunts smaller juvenile cichlids with a specialised hunting technique...
– Giraffe Hap, Venustus Hap