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CICHLIDS
LAKE MALAWI CICHLIDS
Lake Malawi was formed 1-2 million years ago. This geologically young, rocky lake
of the East African Rift is about 375 miles (604 km) long and 53 miles (85 km) wide, making it the ninth largest
lake in the world. The lake is bordered by Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This lake is dominated by cichlids,
most of which are endemic to the lake.
Over 280 cichlid species have been described, although estimates of
up to 500 cichlid species have been made.
The largest group of Cichlids found in this lake is the Haplochromines
with over 120 species and 48 genera.
Among the Haplochromines, are the Peacock Cichlids of the genusAulonocara;the
Mbuna, a large group, including the genera,Cynotilapia, Labeotropheus, Labidochromis,Melanochromis, andPseudotropheus; and the larger piscivores of the generaCyrtocara, Nimbochromis,and Sciaenochromis.
Lake Malawi Biotope Setup
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Recent news
Census of marine life opens with 122,000 species
(7/1/2008) Discovering a new species can be the highlight of a biologist's career. Yet once a species enters the formal literature, complications may develop. The systen has been especially problematic because for centuries biologists have lacked the tools to construct a full and flexible list of the world's innumerable species. Using the Internet and hundreds of scientists around the world, the Census of Marine Life is attempting to take on this monumental task.
Large shark populations fall 97% in the Mediterranean
(6/12/2008) Populations of some shark species in the Mediterranean have plunged by more than 97 percent over the past 200 years, report researchers writing in the journal Conservation Biology. Several species are at risk of extinction.
Dried-up Colorado takes toll on giant Mexican fish
(6/8/2008) The Colorado River vanishes before it reaches the Sea of Cortez in all but the wettest years. Companies in California and the southwestern U.S. have diverted its once-vibrant flow to quench their thirst for water and power. Now, a new study in the April 2008 issue of the journal Biological Conservation reports that the dwindling of this major artery has changed the way some marine fish in the Gulf of California grow and develop.
Diversity in streams may brace Chinook salmon for climate change
(6/3/2008) Chinook salmon face a one-two punch. They have disappeared from several rivers in the western U.S. largely because of human interventions and some populations are threatened or endangered. Numbers of Chinook in California's Central Valley have dwindled by 88 percent in the past five years, a loss that closed fisheries for 2008 and may cost California's economy $167 million, according to the state Department of Fish and Game. On top of all this looms a second impact: These salmon will be in hotter water still because of climate change.
Greenpeace ship attacked by Turkish tuna fishermen during protest
(5/30/2008) Members of a Turkish tuna fishing boat attacked the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise while the ship was engaged in a protest against overfishing. The incident occurred Friday in the Cypriot Channel and was reported to the Turkish Iskenderun Gulf Port Authorities.
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