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The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
fish
Mbuna
Mbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi, and are members of the haplochromine tribe within the family Cichlidae. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi. As the name implies, most mbuna are cichlids that live among the piles of rocks and along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, as opposed to the utaka, cichlids that live in the open water or on sandy shores or soft substrates. Some species of mbuna are highly sexually dimorphic, although many are not. Almost all of the cichlid species of Lake Malawi, including mbuna and non mbuna such as the utaka, are believed to have descended from one or a very few species that became isolated in the lake. With rising water levels, new habitats could be colonized and the many isolated rocky outcrops allowed new mbuna species to form. Their striking colors, intriguing behavioral characteristics, and relative hardiness make them very popular despite their unique demands for the home aquarist.
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fish
Utaka
Utaka
Utaka is a term used for multiple open water-dwelling cichlid species that are found in Lake Malawi, the most diverse source of cichlids in the world of aquaria. Among others, they comprise all the members of the genera Copadichromis and Mchenga. "Utaka" apparently occupy the opposite of the niches used by the mbuna, the more common type of Malawi cichlid that dwells among rocks along the lake's fringes and bottom.
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fish
Fairy Cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardi
Neolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard's lamprologus. In addition, the species is also the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. It is closely related to N. pulcher from the southern half of Lake Tanganyika and some have recommended merging the two into a single species.
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fish
Lemon Cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
Neolamprologus leleupi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs throughout the lake. It is a recess-dweller, inhabiting cracks and crevices. It feeds on invertebrates living in the rich biocover of the substrate. This species reaches a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. The color of this fish ranges from bright yellow to deep brown. Both color variations exist at each location where this species is found. This relatively small cichlid is a substrate spawner. It is easily confused with the very similar N. longior a fish also endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
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C
fish
Cylindricus Cichlid
Neolamprologus cylindricus
Cylindricus Cichlid (Neolamprologus cylindricus)
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F
fish
Five Bar Cichlid
Neolamprologus tretocephalus
Five Bar Cichlid (Neolamprologus tretocephalus)
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B
fish
Buffalo Head Cichlid
Steatocranus casuarius
Buffalo Head Cichlid (Steatocranus casuarius)
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B
fish
Blue Gularis
Fundulopanchax sjostedti
Blue Gularis (Fundulopanchax sjostedti)
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G
fish
Gardner's Killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
Gardner's Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri)
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L
fish
Least Killifish
Heterandria formosa
Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa)
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fish
American Flagfish
Jordanella floridae
The flagfish, also known as the American flagfish or Florida flagfish, is a species of pupfish, a type of killifish from the family Cyprinodontidae which is endemic to Florida. It is found in the aquarium trade. Its common name derives from the dominant males' body pattern, which bears some resemblance to the flag of the United States.
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F
fish
Florida Gar
Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus)
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S
fish
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
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A
fish
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)
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L
fish
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
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B
fish
Bichir
Polypteridae
Bichir (Polypteridae)
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S
fish
Senegal Bichir
Polypterus senegalus
Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)
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O
fish
Ornate Bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis
Ornate Bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis)
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D
fish
Delhezi Bichir
Polypterus delhezi
Delhezi Bichir (Polypterus delhezi)
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R
fish
Ropefish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Ropefish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus)
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