Lake Tanganyika Species Habitat, Food and Characteristics


1. Altolamprologus (e.g., A. calvus, A. compressiceps)

  • Habitat: Shallow, rocky areas of Lake Tanganyika. They are often found gliding between cracks and crevices in rock formations.

  • Food: Carnivorous. In the wild, they hunt for small crustaceans, shrimp, and fish fry. In aquariums, they eat meaty frozen foods, pellets, and flakes.

  • Characteristics: Distinctly laterally compressed (very thin) bodies that allow them to slip into narrow rock fissures. They are slow-moving, stealthy hunters with a calm temperament, though they are territorial toward their own kind.

2. Asprotilapia (e.g., A. leptura)

  • Habitat: Primarily found in the rocky "intermediate" zones where rocks meet sandy patches, typically in shallow water.

  • Food: Herbivorous/Aufwuchs eaters. They use their specialized downward-pointing mouths to scrape algae and microorganisms (aufwuchs) from the surface of rocks.

  • Characteristics: They have a slender, elongated body shape. They are known for being active swimmers and are maternal mouthbrooders, meaning the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for protection.

3. Astatoreochromis (e.g., A. alluaudi)

  • Habitat: Widely distributed in lakes and rivers, preferring the littoral (shoreline) zones, often among aquatic vegetation or stones.

  • Food: Omnivorous but specialized. They are famous for their "molluscivore" abilities, possessing heavy pharyngeal jaws to crush snails, though they also eat insects and plant matter.

  • Characteristics: They exhibit "phenotypic plasticity," meaning their jaw strength develops based on their diet; those that eat harder snails develop much thicker, stronger jaws than those eating soft food.

4. Astatotilapia (e.g., A. burtoni)

  • Habitat: Highly adaptable; they live in diverse environments including lake shores, estuaries, river systems, and even marshes surrounding the lake.

  • Food: Generalist omnivores. Their diet includes insects, small invertebrates, algae, and occasionally tiny fish or fish fry.

  • Characteristics: Highly social and aggressive/territorial. A. burtoni is a famous model organism in science for studying social dominance and behavior. Males are brightly colored with "egg spots" on their anal fins to lure females during mouthbrooding rituals.

5. Aulonocranus (e.g., A. dewindti)

  • Habitat: Inhabits the "intermediate" habitat, specifically sandy bottoms that are interspersed with rocks.

  • Food: Carnivorous/Invertebrate eaters. They use enlarged sensory pores on their heads (like sonar) to detect the movement of insect larvae and crustaceans buried in the sand.

  • Characteristics: Known as "featherfins" due to their long, elegant pelvic fins. Males are "lek breeders," meaning they build large, circular sand nests to attract females.

6. Baileychromis (e.g., B. centropomoides)

  • Habitat: Deep-water specialists. They are typically found in the pelagic or deep benthic zones of the lake, often at depths between 40 and 100 meters.

  • Food: Primarily carnivorous, likely feeding on small fish or deep-water invertebrates, though their specific wild diet is less documented than shallow-water species.

  • Characteristics: A rare genus with only one known species. It has an elongated, "pike-like" appearance with a large mouth, adapted for life in the darker, deeper regions of Lake Tanganyika.

7. Bathybates

  • Habitat: Open water (pelagic zone) and deep benthic areas. They are often found far from the shore and at significant depths.

  • Food: Highly piscivorous (fish-eaters). They are the "sharks" of the lake, specialized in hunting other fish, particularly Tanganyikan sardines (Clupeids).

  • Characteristics: They have streamlined, silvery bodies built for speed and large mouths with sharp, backward-pointing teeth to grip slippery prey. They are fast, powerful swimmers.

8. Benthochromis (e.g., B. tricoti)

  • Habitat: Deep-water dwellers, typically found at depths of 50 to 150 meters near underwater cliffs or steep rocky slopes.

  • Food: They feed on plankton and small crustaceans (copepods) suspended in the water column.

  • Characteristics: Known for their extreme elegance, males develop very long, trailing filaments on their dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. They are large cichlids but have a surprisingly peaceful and somewhat shy nature.

9. Boulengerochromis (B. microlepis)

  • Habitat: Primarily sandy bottoms and open water near the coastline.

  • Food: Predatory; they feed on other fish. As juveniles, they eat invertebrates, but adults are top-tier predators.

  • Characteristics: This genus contains the "Emperor Cichlid," the largest cichlid in the world (reaching up to 90cm/3ft). Unlike many other Tanganyikan cichlids, they are substrate spawners that guard their nests and thousands of fry with extreme ferocity.

10. Callochromis (e.g., C. pleurospilus)

  • Habitat: Shallow sandy areas and beaches, often where there is a thin layer of sediment or organic debris.

  • Food: Carnivorous/Invertivores. They sift through the sand to find small crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks.

  • Characteristics: They are "sand-dwellers" with large, high-set eyes. Males are known for being very energetic and building elaborate sand craters or mounds to attract females. They can be quite aggressive toward each other in a confined space.

11. Cardiopharynx (e.g., C. schoutedeni)

  • Habitat: Sandy habitats, usually in relatively shallow water.

  • Food: They are specialized sand-sifters that feed on microorganisms, diatoms, and detritus found within the upper layers of the lake bed.

  • Characteristics: They have a slender, silvery appearance. They are social, schooling fish that rely on safety in numbers while feeding on the open, unprotected sand flats.

12. Chalinochromis (e.g., C. brichardi)

  • Habitat: Rocky shorelines and "intermediate" zones where rocks and sand meet. They stay very close to the rockwork for protection.

  • Food: They feed on small invertebrates (sponges, larvae, and crustaceans) found on the surface of rocks or within the "aufwuchs" (algal mat).

  • Characteristics: They are closely related to the Julidochromis genus but are distinguished by their thicker "rubbery" lips. They are usually cream-colored with distinct black mask-like markings on their faces and are known to be secretive cave-spawners.

13. Cunningtonia (e.g., C. longiventralis)

  • Habitat: Usually found in the "intermediate" zone where rocky shorelines transition into sandy areas, typically at depths of 5 to 20 meters.

  • Food: They are specialized plankton eaters (planktivores) that feed on microorganisms and small crustaceans suspended in the water column.

  • Characteristics: Known for their extremely long, trailing pelvic fins (giving them the name longiventralis). Males are stunningly colored—often deep blue or purple—and build large, crater-like sand nests to attract females.

14. Cyathopharynx (e.g., C. furcifer, C. foae)

  • Habitat: They inhabit the rocky-sandy intermediate zones. They are often seen in the open water just above the substrate.

  • Food: Diatom and detritus eaters. They sift through the fine layer of sediment covering rocks or sand to find food.

  • Characteristics: Considered some of the most beautiful fish in the lake, males develop iridescent "rainbow" colors and long, spoon-tipped pelvic fins. Like Cunningtonia, they are famous for building massive, sophisticated sand castles (bowers) that can reach nearly a meter in diameter.

15. Cyphotilapia (e.g., C. frontosa, C. gibberosa)

  • Habitat: Deep-water specialists, typically found at depths of 20 to 60 meters (or more) among large underwater rock formations and caves.

  • Food: Carnivorous. While they move slowly, they are efficient predators that feed on smaller fish (like Cyprichromis) and large invertebrates.

  • Characteristics: Famous for the "nuchal hump" on their foreheads, which grows larger with age (especially in males). They are slow-moving, long-lived, and highly social, usually living in groups with a dominant alpha male.

16. Cyprichromis (e.g., C. leptosoma, C. microlepidotus)

  • Habitat: Open water (pelagic zone) near rocky shorelines. They spend their lives in the water column, rarely touching the bottom.

  • Food: Specialized planktivores. They have highly protrusible mouths that act like a vacuum to suck in tiny zooplankton from the water.

  • Characteristics: Often called "Tanganyikan Sardines," they form massive schools numbering in the thousands. They are unique among cichlids for being "open-water mouthbrooders," meaning the females spawn and carry eggs while swimming in mid-water rather than on a solid surface.

17. Ectodus (e.g., E. descampsii)

  • Habitat: Purely sandy habitats and beaches, usually in very shallow water.

  • Food: Omnivorous sand-sifters. They plunge their mouths into the sand to filter out small invertebrates, larvae, and organic particles.

  • Characteristics: They have a sleek, silvery, torpedo-shaped body that helps them blend into the sun-drenched sandy shallows. They are fast swimmers and, like many sand-dwellers, are mouthbrooders that form large, mobile colonies.

18. Enantiopus (e.g., E. melanogenys)

  • Habitat: Wide, open sand flats. They are strictly benthic (bottom-dwelling) and stay in very shallow to moderate depths.

  • Food: Carnivorous sand-sifters. They primarily hunt for small crustaceans and worms hidden within the sand.

  • Characteristics: Known as "Butterfly Cichlids" due to their large, wing-like fins and delicate movements. Males are master architects; during breeding, they create a complex pattern of small sand mounds around a central pit to attract females. They are highly active and exhibit incredible "shimmering" colors during courtship.

19. Eretmodus (e.g., E. cyanostictus)

  • Habitat: The "surf zone" or "surge zone." They live in very shallow water (0–2 meters) where waves crash against the rocks, providing high oxygen levels.

  • Food: Herbivorous. They have specialized, chisel-like teeth used to scrape algae and microorganisms (aufwuchs) from the surface of turbulent rocks.

  • Characteristics: Known as "Tanganyikan Clown Cichlids" due to their hopping movement. They lack a functional swim bladder, allowing them to stay weighted down in heavy currents. They are biparental mouthbrooders (the female carries eggs first, then passes them to the male).

20. Gnathochromis (e.g., G. permaxillaris)

  • Habitat: Deep-water muddy or silty bottoms, often at depths exceeding 30 meters.

  • Food: Invertebrate eaters. They have a highly specialized, large, "vacuum-like" protrusible mouth used to suck up small crustaceans and larvae from the soft sediment.

  • Characteristics: They possess a very distinct, almost prehistoric appearance with a large head and a long, sloping snout. They are generally peaceful but quite sensitive to water quality due to their deep-water origins.

21. Grammatotria (e.g., G. lemairii)

  • Habitat: Sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters.

  • Food: Carnivorous sand-sifters. They primarily feed on small mollusks, shrimp, and insect larvae found buried in the sand.

  • Characteristics: This is a monotypic genus (containing only one species). They are large, powerful swimmers with an elongated, silvery body. They often follow larger sand-sifters or rays to pick up stirred-up prey.

22. Greenwoodochromis (e.g., G. bellcrossi)

  • Habitat: Deep-water habitats, typically found in the twilight zone of the lake (50–100+ meters deep) over rocky or muddy substrates.

  • Food: Carnivorous. Their diet consists of deep-water invertebrates and potentially small fish.

  • Characteristics: Because they live in very deep water, they have large eyes adapted for low-light conditions. They are rarely seen in the aquarium hobby and are known for their subdued, dark coloration and secretive nature.

23. Haplochromis (e.g., H. vanderhorsti)

  • Habitat: While most "Haplochromines" are from Lake Victoria, the Tanganyikan species are usually found in river estuaries and marshy areas surrounding the lake.

  • Food: Opportunistic omnivores. They eat a variety of insects, algae, and small invertebrates.

  • Characteristics: They are generalist cichlids that act as a "basal" group for many other species. They are typically colorful, robust, and maternal mouthbrooders, showing high adaptability to different water conditions.

24. Haplotaxodon (e.g., H. microlepis)

  • Habitat: Open water (pelagic), usually near the surface or mid-water levels, often close to rocky shores.

  • Food: Carnivorous/Piscivorous. They are specialized for hunting small fish and zooplankton near the surface.

  • Characteristics: They have a very distinct upward-pointing mouth, which allows them to snatch prey from above. They have large, high-set eyes and a compressed, silvery body, making them nearly invisible to predators looking up from below.

25. Hemibates (e.g., H. stenosoma)

  • Habitat: Deep-water specialist. They are typically found over muddy or sandy bottoms at depths ranging from 50 to 200 meters.

  • Food: Strictly piscivorous (fish-eater). They hunt small deep-water cichlids and Tanganyikan sardines.

  • Characteristics: They have a very silvery, reflective body that acts as camouflage in the "twilight zone" of the lake. They possess large eyes for deep-water vision and a large, protruding mouth for snatching prey.

26. Interochromis (e.g., I. loocki)

  • Habitat: Rocky shorelines, specifically in the upper layers of the water where sunlight promotes heavy algae growth.

  • Food: Herbivorous. They are specialized "aufwuchs" grazers, scraping algae and the microorganisms living within it from the rocks.

  • Characteristics: This genus is closely related to Petrochromis and Tropheus. They are robust, aggressive, and have specialized teeth for combing through thick algal mats. They are maternal mouthbrooders.

27. Jabarichromis (e.g., J. pfefferi)

  • Habitat: Muddy and sandy substrates, often near river estuaries or in the deeper, sediment-rich areas of the lake.

  • Food: Invertebrate eaters. They sift through the soft mud and sand to find insect larvae, small crustaceans, and mollusks.

  • Characteristics: Formally categorized under Gnathochromis, this genus has a distinctive sloping head and a large, vacuum-like mouth. They are relatively rare in the aquarium hobby and prefer quiet, dim environments.

28. Julidochromis (e.g., J. marlieri, J. ornatus)

  • Habitat: Strictly rocky habitats. They stay extremely close to the rockwork, often swimming upside down or sideways to stay parallel to the rock surface.

  • Food: Omnivorous. They feed on small invertebrates, sponges, and algae found in the "aufwuchs" on the rocks.

  • Characteristics: Known commonly as "Julies," they have elongated bodies with striking horizontal stripes or checkerboard patterns. They are substrate spawners that form very tight-knit pair bonds and guard small caves fiercely.

29. Lamprologus (e.g., L. callipterus, L. ocellatus)

  • Habitat: Primarily sandy areas, but specifically those littered with empty snail shells (Neothauma shells).

  • Food: Carnivorous. They feed on small crustaceans, zooplankton, and insect larvae.

  • Characteristics: This genus includes many "shell-dwellers." They are famous for using empty snail shells as their homes and nesting sites. They are often small in size but have very "large" personalities, defending their shells against fish many times their size.

30. Lepidiolamprologus (e.g., L. elongatus, L. kendalli)

  • Habitat: Rocky and intermediate zones. They are often found patrolling the open water just outside of rock formations.

  • Food: Highly predatory (piscivorous). They are fast, powerful hunters that prey on other cichlids and smaller fish.

  • Characteristics: They have long, cylindrical, "torpedo-shaped" bodies built for sudden bursts of speed. They are known for being quite aggressive and territorial, and unlike the smaller Lamprologus, they are mostly substrate spawners that lay eggs on open rock surfaces.

31. Lestradea (e.g., L. perspicax)

  • Habitat: Shallow, sandy coastal areas and beaches. They are often found in very large schools in open water over the sand.

  • Food: Planktonic. They feed on tiny crustaceans and microorganisms suspended in the water column.

  • Characteristics: These are slender, silvery fish with very large eyes. They are highly active, fast swimmers that rely on schooling for protection against predators in the exposed sandy shallows.

32. Limnochromis (e.g., L. auritus)

  • Habitat: Deep-water muddy or silty bottoms, often at depths between 20 and 100 meters.

  • Food: Invertebrate eaters. They sift through the soft mud to find insect larvae, worms, and small crustaceans.

  • Characteristics: Known for their beautiful iridescent "mother-of-pearl" scales and golden-yellow fins. They are unique because they are biparental mouthbrooders—both the mother and father take turns carrying the eggs and fry in their mouths.

33. Limnotilapia (e.g., L. dardennii)

  • Habitat: Widely distributed across various habitats but most common in shallow, rocky areas with high light levels or near weed beds.

  • Food: Primarily herbivorous. They have a varied diet including filamentous algae, aquatic plants, and sometimes small invertebrates.

  • Characteristics: This is a large, robust cichlid that can grow up to 10 inches. They are very active and can be quite aggressive. Males develop a beautiful greenish-yellow hue with vertical bars.

34. Lobochilotes (e.g., L. labiatus)

  • Habitat: Rocky shorelines and the intermediate zone where rocks meet sand.

  • Food: Invertebrates. They use their specialized lips to sense and extract prey (like insect larvae and crustaceans) from narrow cracks in the rocks.

  • Characteristics: The most striking feature is their massive, fleshy, "rubber-like" lips. These lips act as cushions and sensors while the fish probes the jagged rock surfaces for food. They have a distinct striped pattern and a deep-bodied profile.

35. Microdontochromis (e.g., M. tenuidentatus)

  • Habitat: Open water (pelagic) but usually found in close proximity to underwater rocky reefs or slopes.

  • Food: Specialized plankton eaters. They use their fine, tiny teeth to filter zooplankton from the water column.

  • Characteristics: As the name suggests (Micro-donto), they have very small teeth. They are slender, delicate-looking fish that form tight schools. During breeding, males develop long, elegant filaments on their pelvic fins.

36. Neolamprologus (e.g., N. brichardi, N. leleupi)

  • Habitat: Extremely diverse, but most species are found in rocky areas, crevices, and caves.

  • Food: Mostly carnivorous/invertivores. They eat zooplankton, small crustaceans, and insect larvae.

  • Characteristics: This is the largest and most diverse genus in the lake. It includes the famous "Princess of Burundi" (N. brichardi), known for complex family structures where older siblings help raise the new fry. They are substrate (cave) spawners and are generally very territorial.

37. Ophthalmotilapia (e.g., O. ventralis, O. nasuta)

  • Habitat: Rocky shorelines and the intermediate zone. They are often found in the upper, well-lit layers of the water column near large boulders.

  • Food: Primarily plankton and microorganisms. They pick small food particles out of the water or off the surface of rocks.

  • Characteristics: Known as "Featherfins," the males possess exceptionally long pelvic fins with bright yellow or orange tips that look like "egg dummies." They use these to trick females during their elaborate mouthbrooding courtship rituals.

38. Oreochromis (e.g., O. tanganyicae)

  • Habitat: Found in various environments, including river deltas, estuaries, and shallow coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms.

  • Food: Omnivorous and opportunistic. They feed on algae, aquatic plants, detritus, and small invertebrates.

  • Characteristics: These are large, robust fish related to the Tilapia family. They are highly adaptable and commercially important as food fish in the region. They are maternal mouthbrooders and can grow quite large compared to most ornamental cichlids.

39. Paracyprichromis (e.g., P. nigripinnis)

  • Habitat: Strictly rocky environments, specifically vertical cliff faces and the ceilings of large underwater caves.

  • Food: Specialized zooplankton eaters. They hunt for tiny crustaceans in the water column near the rock face.

  • Characteristics: Often called the "Neon Cichlid" due to the brilliant iridescent blue lines on their bodies. Unlike their cousins (Cyprichromis), they stay very close to the rocks and are often seen swimming upside down or vertically against cave walls.

40. Perissodus / Plecodus (e.g., P. microlepis)

  • Habitat: Open water and rocky areas throughout the lake; they are wide-ranging hunters.

  • Food: Extremely specialized scale-eaters (lepidophages). They use their unique teeth to rasp scales off the sides of other living fish.

  • Characteristics: They have highly specialized, asymmetrical jaws—curving either to the left or the right—which allows them to strike the flank of a victim from a specific side. They are a classic example of "frequency-dependent selection" in evolution.

41. Petrochromis (e.g., P. famula, P. trewavasae)

  • Habitat: Shallow, sun-drenched rocky areas where there is a high concentration of oxygen and light.

  • Food: Herbivorous. They are the "lawnmowers" of the lake, using their large, brush-like mouths filled with hundreds of tiny teeth to comb algae out of the rock biocover.

  • Characteristics: They are known for being very large, powerful, and exceptionally aggressive. They have a distinct "bulldog" facial profile and are maternal mouthbrooders.

42. Pseudosimochromis (e.g., P. curvifrons)

  • Habitat: Shallow rocky habitats, often in the very top few meters of water where the surge is strongest.

  • Food: Herbivorous. Like Petrochromis, they feed on the "aufwuchs" (algal mat) covering the rocks.

  • Characteristics: They are compact, deep-bodied fish with a very steep, rounded forehead. They are closely related to the Simochromis and Tropheus lineages and are known for their territorial behavior and social complexity within their groups.

43. Reganochromis (e.g., R. calliurus)

  • Habitat: Deep-water sandy and muddy bottoms, usually at depths of 60 meters or more.

  • Food: Carnivorous. They feed on small crustaceans and invertebrates found in the soft substrate.

  • Characteristics: This is a monotypic genus (containing only one species). It has an elongated, slender body with a long snout. It is known for its beautiful, tall dorsal fin and iridescent "mother-of-pearl" sheen. In the aquarium, they are peaceful and somewhat shy.

44. Shuja (e.g., S. mara)

  • Habitat: Shallow rocky areas and the intermediate zone.

  • Food: Herbivorous/Omnivorous. They graze on the "aufwuchs" (algae and microorganisms) found on rock surfaces.

  • Characteristics: Formerly classified under the genus Pseudosimochromis, this genus was recently established. They are characterized by a deep, compressed body and a distinctive steep forehead. They are maternal mouthbrooders and exhibit high levels of territoriality.

45. Simochromis (e.g., S. diagramma)

  • Habitat: Very shallow rocky shorelines, often in the "surge zone" where wave action is high.

  • Food: Strictly herbivorous. They use their specialized teeth to scrape filamentous algae from the rocks.

  • Characteristics: They look very similar to the more famous Tropheus genus but are generally larger and more elongated. They are highly aggressive toward their own kind and live in complex social hierarchies.

46. Spathodus (e.g., S. erythrodon)

  • Habitat: The turbulent "surf zone." Like Eretmodus, they live in the oxygen-rich, shallow waters where waves break against the rocks.

  • Food: Herbivorous/Invertivores. They use their specialized "spatula-shaped" teeth to scrape algae and pick out small larvae from the rock crevices.

  • Characteristics: Known as one of the "Goby Cichlids." They have a reduced swim bladder to help them stay on the bottom in heavy currents. They are unique for their "biparental mouthbrooding," where both parents share the duty of carrying the fry.

47. Tangachromis (e.g., T. dhanisi)

  • Habitat: Deep-water muddy or silty environments, often at depths between 30 and 100 meters.

  • Food: Planktonic. They feed on small zooplankton and microorganisms suspended in the deep-water column.

  • Characteristics: This is a rare, small cichlid with a very slender, elongated body and large eyes adapted for low-light conditions. Because of their deep-water habitat, they are rarely seen in the aquarium hobby.

48. Tanganicodus (e.g., T. irsacae)

  • Habitat: Shallow rocky habitats, specifically in the rubble and pebbles near the shoreline.

  • Food: Primarily insectivorous. Unlike the other Goby Cichlids that eat algae, Tanganicodus has pointed teeth designed to pick insect larvae and small crustaceans out of the rocks.

  • Characteristics: Often called the "Spotline Goby Cichlid." They have a very pointed snout and a distinctive "hopping" swimming style. They are also biparental mouthbrooders and are generally the most peaceful of the Goby Cichlid group.

49. Telmatochromis (e.g., T. vittatus, T. temporalis)

  • Habitat: Mostly found in rocky areas and the intermediate zones. Some smaller species are "shell-dwellers" that inhabit empty snail shells in sandy areas.

  • Food: Omnivorous. They feed on small invertebrates, algae, and organic detritus found on the surface of rocks.

  • Characteristics: They have elongated, slender bodies and are known for being very hardy and territorial. They are substrate spawners, often choosing narrow cracks in rocks or empty shells to lay their eggs.

50. Trematocara (e.g., T. marginatum)

  • Habitat: Deep-water dwellers that live over sandy or muddy bottoms. They are known for vertical migrations, moving toward the surface at night to feed.

  • Food: Carnivorous. They feed on small crustaceans and insect larvae found in the substrate or the water column.

  • Characteristics: They have exceptionally large sensory pores on their heads (lateral line system) to detect prey in the dark, deep waters. They are small, silvery, and have very large eyes.

51. Trematochromis (T. benthicola)

  • Habitat: Inhabits the deeper rocky and intermediate zones, often found in caves or under large boulders.

  • Food: Omnivorous. Their diet includes small invertebrates and some plant matter/algae.

  • Characteristics: This is a rare, monotypic genus. It has a robust body and a large head. It was previously confused with Ctenochromis but is distinguished by its unique tooth structure and deep-water lifestyle.

52. Triglachromis (T. otostigma)

  • Habitat: Found on muddy or silty bottoms in relatively deep water. They are known for digging and living in tunnels in the mud.

  • Food: They feed on microorganisms and organic particles (detritus) found within the soft mud.

  • Characteristics: Their most striking feature is their pelvic fins, which have thickened, finger-like rays used to "walk" on or feel the muddy bottom—similar to a Sea Robin (Triglidae) fish.

53. Tropheus (e.g., T. moorii, T. duboisi)

  • Habitat: Shallow, sediment-free rocky shorelines where sunlight is intense.

  • Food: Strictly herbivorous. They are specialized "grazers" that constantly scrape filamentous algae from the rocks.

  • Characteristics: These are some of the most famous and colorful cichlids in the lake. They live in large, highly social, but extremely aggressive colonies. They are maternal mouthbrooders and are very sensitive to diet.

54. Tylochromis (e.g., T. polylepis)

  • Habitat: Mostly found in the river estuaries and the shallow, siltier coastal waters of the lake.

  • Food: Omnivorous/Invertivores. They use their strong jaws to crush mollusks, snails, and insect larvae found in the sediment.

  • Characteristics: Unlike most Tanganyikan cichlids, which belong to the Pseudocrenilabrinae subfamily, Tylochromis belongs to a more primitive lineage. They are large, deep-bodied fish that resemble North American Sunfish in shape.

55. Variabilichromis (e.g., V. moorii)

  • Habitat: Strictly rocky habitats, usually in relatively shallow water. They are very common in the southern parts of Lake Tanganyika.

  • Food: Omnivorous. They feed on a mix of filamentous algae and small invertebrates (crustaceans and insect larvae) found within the rock biocover.

  • Characteristics: This is a monotypic genus. They are famous for their dramatic color change; juveniles are a brilliant, solid yellow, while adults turn a velvety black with electric blue edges on their fins. They are substrate spawners and are exceptionally protective parents, often defending their fry for much longer than other species.

56. Xenochromis (e.g., X. hecqui)

  • Habitat: Deep-water environments, typically found over muddy or silty bottoms at depths of 60 meters or more.

  • Food: Highly specialized scale-eaters (lepidophages). Like Perissodus, they have evolved to rasp scales off the sides of other fish.

  • Characteristics: They have very specialized, flexible jaws and teeth designed specifically for peeling scales. They are rarely seen in the aquarium hobby due to their deep-water nature and highly specific, aggressive feeding habits.

57. Xenotilapia (e.g., X. flavipinnis, X. papilio)

  • Habitat: Primarily sandy bottoms and the "intermediate" zones where sand meets scattered rocks.

  • Food: Carnivorous sand-sifters. They use their specialized mouths to plunge into the sand and filter out small crustaceans, worms, and larvae.

  • Characteristics: Known as "Sand-dwellers," they have large, high-set eyes and a low-slung mouth. They are very delicate, peaceful, and social fish. This genus is famous for its diverse breeding strategies: some species are maternal mouthbrooders, while others are biparental mouthbrooders where the male and female share the duty of carrying the fry.