Cyrtocara moorii

(Boulenger, 1902)

Vernacular names

English : Blue dolphin cichlid
French : Cichlidé dauphin bleu

Classification

Class : Teleostei
Order : Cichliformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Cichlidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

Adults will grow to 20 cm long. Males are bigger than females, brighter and with a much bigger hump on forehead. White lips, yellow eyes. Body entirely dark blue to bright blue with faint vertical bars. Fins usually much darker than body.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in eastern Africa and is endemic to Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe. Lives in shallow waters in sandy areas, from 3 to 15 meters deep.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : This species is more and more threatened by extensive hunting with the use of shore nets, both for food and for the trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation