Cyrtocara moorii

Nile River section (but probably a Tanganika or Malawi lake species)

Yes, the blue dolphin cichlid from Lake Malawi, Cyrtocara moorii.

Alan

Thanks! Will be interesting to know if Cyrtocara moorii and Tropheus moorii are two names for same species.

No. Tropheus moorii is from Lake Tanganyika and has many colour morphs from rocky areas around the lake; there are several species in the genus and they are all advanced mouthbrooders which feed largely on algae scraped from rocks (aufwuchs feeders). Cyrtocara moorii is from Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe, it is also a mouthbrooder, but it feeds by following large individuals of other species of cichlid, which disturb the sandy bottom of the Lake and expose food items. Cyrtocara is a montypic genus and it seems to be a relatively ancient one. Both species were described by Boulenger at the BMNH and named after Mr J E S Moore, who collected the specimens.

Alan

Thanks a lot, you're a true encyclopaedia!