All FishesAmphiliidaeLeptoglaninaeZaireichthys  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Zaireichthys lacustris  Eccles, Tweddle & Skelton, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality Trawled in shells in Mazinzi Bay, 14°07'S, 34°57'E, about 8 km south-east of Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi, depth 11-13 meters.
Pronunciation za eer ICK thiss - la CUS tris
Etymology Zaireichthys: From the Zaire river and the Greek ichthys, meaning fish; in reference to the type of the genus and its collection locality. The specific name lacustris refers to the first species of the genus to be known from a lacustrine environment.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 22mm or 0.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The majority of species are small and compact, have a defense mechanism of three ossified spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins,being able to lock them into place which makes the genus different from all other Amphiliidae.

Distinguished from all other members of the genus by the short snout, , which is less than one third of the head length. Head is broader than all other species, eyes relatively large.Quite transparent in real life with light brown marbling on nape and shoulders and mottled head.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Endemic to Lake Malawi, Africa.
African Waters, Zambesi, Malawi (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding In nature this species feeds on small invertebrates. User data.
Furniture Snail shells over a sand substrate. Usually males are found alone in shells unless the female is in spawning condition. The females likely spend more time in the open areas of sand.
Suggested Tankmates Has been found in snail shells also occupied by cichlids but is probably not symbiotic, it is probable that the little catfish can fit farther back into the upper reaches of the snail shell. This is a very small catfish and companions would have to be kept accordingly to their size.
Breeding Young have been found in the wild with the adults inside snail shells. It is presumed males stake a shell as a territory and continues some brood care after eggs are deposited. Most likely not a mouthbrooder due to the small size of the mouth and bucal cavity.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Smithiana, Publications in Aquatic Biodiversity, Bulletin No. 13, pp 12, Figs. 3A, 10.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2019 Oct 26 06:40 (species record created: 2011 Sep 23 20:19)