Aristochromis

Aristochromis christyi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, which is endemic to Lake Malawi in central Africa. It is the only known member of its genus.[3]

Aristochromis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Aristochromis
Trewavas, 1935
Species:
A. christyi
Binomial name
Aristochromis christyi

Description

A. christyi has an elongated body and an enlarged, bulbous head. The female and juvenile A, christyi are similar to each other in colour having mainly silvery bodies marked with longitudinal black lines one from which runs from the nape to the tail and with the other along the base of the dorsal fin. As the males reach sexual maturity they lose their stripes and the body colour changes to blue, at the same time the ventral fins change colour to orange in the breeding season.[4] his large, predatory fish grows to a length of 30 centimetres (12 in) total length.[5]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania where it is endemic to Lake Malawi. Within Lake Malawi A. christyi is a widespread species being found in areas where more rocky habitat gives way to sand,[6]

Biology

This is a piscivorous species and its main prey consists of other cichlid species, eating any prey which can fit into its mouth.[6] To feed A. christyi searches among rocks and when it finds prey it turns sideways and puts its sizeable, laterally compressed mandibles into rocky cracks capturing any small fish which may be hiding among the rocks.[5] Bothe males and females are territorial and solitary but females will enter male held territories to spawn, the males are polygamous and the eggs and young are mouthbrooded by the female.[4]

Name

The specific name honours the English doctor and zoologist Cuthbert Christy (1863-1932), the collector of the type.[7]

References
  1. Konings, A. & Kasembe, J (2018). "Aristochromis christyi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T60932A47223605. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. Eschmeyer, W. N.; R. Fricke & R. van der Laan (eds.). "Aristochromis christyi". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Aristochromis christyi" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
  4. "Malawi Hawk Cichlid (Aristochromis christyi)". Aquatropic. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  5. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2018). "Aristochromis christyi" in FishBase. June 2018 version.
  6. "Aristochromis christyi TREWAVAS, 1935". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
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