Melanochromis auratus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Melanochromis auratus

Species Authority:

(Boulenger, 1897)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Golden Mbuna

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2006
Assessor/s:	Kasembe, J.
Reviewer/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: Endemic to Lake Malawi where it is widespread throughout the southern part of the lake. It has no known major, widespread threats.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Mainly occurs in the southern part of the lake from Jalo reef along the entire western coast down to Crocodile rocks, including all Islands and reefs.
Countries:	Native: Malawi
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Occurs mainly in rocky habitat. It is most numerous among medium sized rocks but can also occur in intermediate habitat. Recorded from the surface to a depth of at least 40 m (more numerous in the upper 10 m). Males are weakly territorial and seldom stay to defend a particular site for more than a few hours. Spawning occurs inside a cave or alongside a rock. Females and non-territorial males occur singly or in small groups of about 8–10 individuals. Feeds on aufwuchs as well as plankton. Known by its scientific name in the aquarium trade. Max. size: Attains a maximum length of 10 cm for males and 9 cm for females.
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Occurs mainly in rocky habitat. It is most numerous among medium sized rocks but can also occur in intermediate habitat. Recorded from the surface to a depth of at least 40 m (more numerous in the upper 10 m). Males are weakly territorial and seldom stay to defend a particular site for more than a few hours. Spawning occurs inside a cave or alongside a rock. Females and non-territorial males occur singly or in small groups of about 8–10 individuals. Feeds on aufwuchs as well as plankton. Known by its scientific name in the aquarium trade. Max. size: Attains a maximum length of 10 cm for males and 9 cm for females.

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Collection for the aquarium trade. Subsistence fishing.

Major Threat(s):

Collection for the aquarium trade. Subsistence fishing.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	None.

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. Konings's Book of Cichlids and All the Other Fishes of Lake Malawi. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City New Jersey. Konings, A. 1995. Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat. Second Edition. Cichlid Press, St. Leon-Rot, Germany. Ribbink, A.J., Marsh, B.A., Marsh, A.C., Ribbink A.C. and Sharp, B.J. 1983. A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi. South African Journal of Zoology 18: 149–310

IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006.

Konings, A. 1990. Konings's Book of Cichlids and All the Other Fishes of Lake Malawi. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City New Jersey.

Konings, A. 1995. Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat. Second Edition. Cichlid Press, St. Leon-Rot, Germany.

Ribbink, A.J., Marsh, B.A., Marsh, A.C., Ribbink A.C. and Sharp, B.J. 1983. A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi. South African Journal of Zoology 18: 149–310

Citation:	Kasembe, J. 2006. Melanochromis auratus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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