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 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. |
| 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. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Endemic to Lake Malawi, Africa. African Waters, Zambesi, Malawi (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018. |
| 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. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Smithiana, Publications in Aquatic Biodiversity, Bulletin No. 13, pp 12, Figs. 3A, 10. |
| 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 Z. lacustris on PlanetCatfish.com |
 | Look up Z. lacustris on Fishbase |
 | Look up Z. lacustris on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up Z. lacustris on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| LFS label creator ARN ref:1.24.126.3985 | |
| Last Update | 2025 Jan 02 00:46 (species record created: 2011 Sep 23 20:19) |