Alticorpus Macrocleithrum

Alticorpus Macrocleithrum is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Malawi. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes. This species differs from all other species of Alticorpus by the presence of a prominent ventral protuberance of the cleithrum on the chest*, hence the name Macrcleithrum.

Like all members of Alticorpus, macrocleithrum has enlarged lateral pores on the lower part of the head. The feeding technique of these species is to 'listen' for any movements within the sediment. Once they have located a prey buried in the sediment, they will dart at it, picking it out of the sediment. The enlarged cleithrum found throughout these species acts as a base for the enlarged musculature needed to pull themselves free of the sediment once buried into it from chasing prey.

Their diet can consist of many small organisms including crustaceans, larvae etc. Some species have been found at depths of around 159 metres!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Alticorpus Macrocleithrum

Photo/Map © Copyright by Ad Konings and Cichlid Press