All FishesAmphiliidaeLeptoglaninaeZaireichthys  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Zaireichthys maravensis  Eccles, Tweddle & Skelton, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality Tributaries of the South Rukuru near Rumphi, 11°00'S, 33°50'E, Lake Malawi tributaries, Malawi.
Pronunciation za eer ICK thiss
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 of this species refers to its currently known distribution restricted to Malawi, a name derived from the 16th century Maravi Kingdom, although it is likely to occur also in rivers flowing into Lake Malawi from Tanzania and Mozambique.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 31mm or 1.2" 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.

Base color yellowish, three lateral rows of darker spots, one dorsally, second along the lateral line and the thirdalmost ventrally.Caudal fin with a dark bar at its base and another at about 60% of its length.All fins except adipose fin with faint dark bars.
General Remarks Reported to be found in fast-flowing streams and small rivers with clear water and a sandy bottom.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Western catchment, Lake Malawi tributaries, Malawi.

Log in to view data on a map.
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
Furniture In nature the majority of species are found over or in sand in flowing rivers. There is one known lake dwelling species from Lake Malawi which is also found over sand and living in snail shells.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Smithiana, Publications in Aquatic Biodiversity, Bulletin No. 13, pp 14, Figs. 3B, 12-13.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There is no record of this fish being seen.
Forum BBCode
Look up PlanetCatfish.com Look up Z. maravensis on PlanetCatfish.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up Z. maravensis on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up Z. maravensis on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up Z. maravensis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Zaireichthys maravensis QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2019 Oct 26 06:40 (species record created: 2011 Sep 23 20:20)