Cyrtocara moorii, commonly known as the hump-head, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa where they prefer areas with sandy substrates. It can grow to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the hump-head cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii. It is currently the only known member of its genus.[2] The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).[3]
Cyrtocara | |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
Tribe: | Haplochromini |
Genus: | Cyrtocara Boulenger, 1902 |
Species: | C. moori |
Binomial name | |
Cyrtocara moori Boulenger, 1902 | |
They are varying shades of blue, ranging from turquoise to a silvery-blue, and grow a distinctive hump on their forehead. The male is usually brighter blue than the female.[4]
The Malawi dolphin is best kept at temperatures of 75–78 °F. It is relatively tame except when it is spawning.
The minimum aquarium size should be 48 gallons but increased as the fish grows larger.[4]
Taxon identifiers |
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