Caprichromis liemi, the happy, is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to the Lake Malawi region, being also found in Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River.[1] It occurs over sandy substrates but it frequently remains in midwater. This species is a specialised predator, a paedophage, which steals the broods from mouthbrooding female cichlids by ramming the brooding female's head from below. Examination of their stomach contents resulted in the recovery of eggs, larvae and fry only.[2] The juveniles act a cleaner fish, and so may the adults. The males build "sand castle" spawning sites.[1] The specific name honours the ichthyologist Karel F. Liem (1935-2009), in recognition of his studies of cichlids.[3]

Caprichromis liemi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Caprichromis
Species:
C. liemi
Binomial name
Caprichromis liemi
(McKaye & Mackenzie, 1982)
Synonyms
  • Cyrtocara liemi McKaye & Mackenzie, 1982
  • Maravichromis liemi (McKaye & MacKenzie, 1982)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Konings, A.; Kazembe, J.; Makocho, P. (2019). "Caprichromis liemi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T60901A155044412. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T60901A155044412.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Caprichromis liemi" in FishBase. June 2018 version.
  3. ^ 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 2 December 2018.