Nyassachromis
Encyclopedia
Nyassachromis is a genus
of haplochromine
cichlid
s endemic to East Africa
. They are open-water mouthbrooder
s, an ecological niche
known as utaka
to locals.
At present, 8 species
are placed here:
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 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 open-water mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooder
Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, most notably Darwin's...
s, an ecological niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
known as utaka
Utaka
right|thumb|Red empress cichlid, which lives in the utaka niche of lake Malawi, AfricaUtaka is the term used for open water-dwelling cichlids found in Lake Malawi, the most diverse source of cichlids in the world of amateur aquaria...
to locals.
At present, 8 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...
are placed here:
- Nyassachromis boadzulu (Iles, 1960)
- Nyassachromis brevicepsNyassachromis brevicepsNyassachromis breviceps 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....
- Nyassachromis leuciscus – Small Green UtakaSmall green utakaThe small green utaka is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:...
- Nyassachromis microcephalusNyassachromis microcephalusNyassachromis microcephalus 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....
- Nyassachromis nigritaeniatusNyassachromis nigritaeniatusNyassachromis nigritaeniatus 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....
- Nyassachromis prostoma (Trewavas, 1935)
- Nyassachromis purpuransNyassachromis purpuransNyassachromis purpurans is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. Included in the group of open water mouthbrooders called "Utaka" by the native Malawians...
- Nyassachromis serenusNyassachromis serenusNyassachromis serenus 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....