aquarium

📖 Overview

Found in the intermediate zones of Lake Malawi, being particularly common along the rock-sand interface; occasionally it occurs in purely rocky habitats which are close to sand; most numerous between 2 and 5 m depth . Territories are held by males, usually over the upper surfaces of medium-sized and large rocks, but a small proportion of males occupy less prominent sites and some defend areas at the base of rocks where they dig sand-scrape nests; females, juveniles and non-territorial adult males occur singly or in groups of up to 30 individuals .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Diagnosis: The lack of a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin, a yellow ventral half of the head, breast, and dorsal fin, and the light-brown coloured females that have yellow fin-margins distinguish Maylandia aurora from most members of the genus, except M. hajomaylandi, M. chrysomallos, and M. xanthos; it differs from M. hajomaylandi and M. chrysomallos by fewer, faint, vertical bars below the dorsal fin, 6 vs. 7-9; and from M. xanthos by a shorter lower jaw, 28.4-33.5% of head length vs. 34.6-36.7% . Colouration: Lateral body colouration blue dorsally in males from likoma Island, Mara Point North, and N'kolongwe, but brown dorsally in males from Mbweca and Tumbi Point, with anterior portion of scales sky-blue and 6 faint blue bars below dorsal fin; caudal peduncle dark blue; yellow belly and breast fading to light blue towards anal fin; head sky-blue with preorbital, ventral half of cheek, operculum and preoperculum yellow; dark yellow/green opercular spot; gular yellow; dorsal fin yellow with submarginal sky-blue band and sky-blue blotches throughout; caudal-fin rays yellow with light-blue membranes; anal fin pale blue to pale yellow with one ocellus; pelvic fin with light-blue leading edge, remaining yellow; pectoral-fin rays pale yellow and membranes clear . Female lateral ground colouration pale blue with center of scales orange/brown; belly white; head brown; cheek and operculum with purple highlights; gray/black opercular spot; white gular; dorsal fin brown with brown lappets; caudal-fin rays brown with clear membranes; anal fin gray proximally and brown distally with single small orange/brown ocellus; pelvic finwith white leading edge; first two rays and membranes brown, remainder clear; pectoral fin clear .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for aquarium is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Produces 40-70 eggs.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.5 - 8.5; dH range: 12 - 30; depth range 2 - 12 m , usually 2 - 5 m . Tropical; 24°C - 26°C ; 12°S - 15°S south near N'kolongwe (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"aquarium is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for aquarium is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for aquarium has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

📊 Population Dynamics

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language	Common Names
🇬🇧English	Aurora Cichlid · Cichlid
🇩🇪German	Aurora-Felsenbuntbarsch
🇫🇮Finnish	aurinkomalawinahven
🇵🇹Portuguese	Mbuna-aurora
🇷🇺Russian	Желтогорлый псевдотрофеус

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name	Author	Year	Status
Metriaclima aurora	Burgess	1976	Synonym
Pseudoropheus aurora	Burgess	1976	Synonym
Pseudotropheus aurora	Burgess	1976	Synonym

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect aquarium.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute