Copadichromis mbenji

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• Classification Schemes
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• Bibliography
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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Copadichromis mbenji
Species Authority:	Konings, 1990

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable   D2   ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s:	Kazembe, J., Makocho, P. & Mailosi, A.
Reviewer/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: Endemic to Lake Malawi, only recorded from one restricted location at Mbenji Island.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Only known from one location at Mbenji Island.
Countries:	Native: Malawi
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:

Occurs in the intermediate habitat at a depth range of 8–30 m. Females and non-breeding males forage in mid-water for plankton. Breeding occurs throughout the year (low activity during the rainy season). Mature males build cave crater nests in the intermediate habitat. Known as "Quads" or "Haplochromis quadrimaculatus" in the aquarium trade (previously thought to be a form of Copadichromis quadrimaculatus).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):

Potential over-fishing. Collection for the aquarium trade.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:

None.

Bibliography [top]

IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006. Konings, A. 1990. Descriptions of six new Malawi cichlids Tropical Fish Hobbyist 38(11): 110–129. Konings, A. 1995. Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat. Second Edition. Cichlid Press, St. Leon-Rot, Germany.