Copadichromis borleyi

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Copadichromis borleyi
a male C. borleyi from Kadango, Lake Malawi.
a male C. borleyi from Kadango, Lake Malawi.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Genus: Copadichromis
(Eccles and Trewavas, 1989)
Species: C. borleyi
Binomial name
Copadichromis borleyi
(Iles, 1960)[1]

Copadichromis borleyi is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa.[2] The species is popular in the fishkeeping hobby where it is frequently kept in aquariums.[3][4] The species has numerous common names used in the ornamental fish trade including: Happy, Red fin and Goldfin.[2][4]

Contents

[edit] Appearance, size and sexual dimorphism

C. borleyi is a relatively small cichlid, males grow to 13-16 centimetres (5-6 in) total length, while females are typically slightly smaller reaching 13 centimetres.[3][4][5][6] In addition to these minor difference in size, the species displays marked sexual dimorphism with males displaying larger ventral fins marked with egg spots, light-blue edging to the dorsal and ventral fins, along with metallic blue colouration of the head, and yellow to red flanks. In contrast, females are silver-to-brown and display three black spots along their sides.[3] Juveniles are monomorphic and are coloured like the adult females.[6] Some intraspecific variation has been recorded with regard to colouration, these differently coloured forms are geographically restricted to certain localities in Lake Malawi.[6]

[edit] Range and habitat

C. borleyi is widespread in Lake Malawi, occurring along the coasts of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.[2] The species is limited to littoral zones with large rocks and boulders.[6] The water in which species is found is warm (24 – 29 °C,75 – 84 °F), hard and alkaline; typical of the water chemistry of Lake Malawi.[3]

[edit] Diet

The species feeds primarily on zooplankton,[4] by means of specialised, suction feeding action and highly protrudable mouth.[7]

[edit] Taxonomy

The species was described in 1960 by Thomas Derrick Iles as Haplochromis borleyi,[1] and was later moved to Copadichromis by David Eccles and Ethylwynn Trewavas.[8] The species is also known under the synonym Cyrtocara borleyi,[9] and is occasionally sold under the trade name of Haplochromis granderus.[10]

[edit] Reproduction

Photo of juvenile Copadichromis borleyi "Red Fin", photographed in dealer aquarium
Photo of juvenile Copadichromis borleyi "Red Fin", photographed in dealer aquarium

C. borleyi is a polygamous, maternally mouthbrooding cichlid.[3] Males frequently claim areas adjacent to, or on top of, large, submerged boulders and spawn on the horizontal upper surface of the boulder. Some geographic variants are known to build sand bowers atop large rocks in which spawning and courting takes place.[3][6] The species has no defined breeding season and breeding occurs year round.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Iles TD (1960) A group of zooplankton feeders of the genus *Haplochromis* (Cichlidae) in Lake Nyasa. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 13) 257-280.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.. Copadichromis borleyi, Haplochromis borleyi redfin. FishBase. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Staeck W, Linke H (1996) African Cichlids II: Cichlids from East Africa. A handbook for their identification, care and breeding. Tetra Press. ISBN 1-56465-167-3
  4. ^ a b c d Konings A (1997) Back to nature guide to Laek Malawi cichlids Druckhaus Beltz, Germany. ISBN 3-9805605-3-8
  5. ^ Maréchal C (1991) Copadichromis. p. 51-58. In: J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Konings A (2001) Malaŵi cichlids in their natural habitat 3rd Edn. Cichlid Press. USA. ISBN 0-9668255-3-5
  7. ^ Fryer, G, Iles TD (1972) The cichlid fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh; TFH Publications, New Jersey
  8. ^ Eccles DH, Trewavas E (1989) Malawian cichlid fishes. The classification of some Haplochromine genera Lake Fish Movies, Herten, Germany.
  9. ^ Baensch HA, Riehl R (1985) Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany.
  10. ^ Baensch HA, Riehl R (1997) Aquarium atlas. Volume 2, 2nd Edn. Tetra Press, Singapore.
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