The nkhomo-benga peacock (''Aulonocara baenschi''), also known as the new yellow regal peacock, is a species of

haplochromine __NOTOC__ The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus ''Haplochromis'' plus a number of closely related genera such as '' Aulonocara'', '' Astatotila ...

cichlid Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with on ...

which is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Lake Malawi Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, () is an African Great Lakes, African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is ...

. This species is threatened by capture for the aquarium trade.

Distribution

The Nkhomo-benga peacock is endemic to Lake Malawi where has only been recorded from the Nkhomo Reef and possibly nearby areas of western Lake Malawi.

Habitat and ecology

Scientific Name: Aulonocara Baenschi Common Name: Yellow Sunshine PeacockAdult Size: 5 inchesLife Expectancy: 10 Years Habitat: East African Lake Malawi Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons Ideal Tank Conditions: Temperature Range: 78°F pH Range: 7.0-8.0 Hardness Range: 10-25° Temperament: Semi aggressive. Generally peaceful but may become territorial, particularly while spawning. Diet & Nutrition: Carnivorous - prefers live foods such as blood worms, snails or brine shrimp, but will generally accept frozen, flake or pellet foods. The Nkhomo-benga peacock inhabits sandy areas interspersed with rocks where it hunts small invertebrates, which are detected in the sand using enlarged cephalic pores. Feeding may be by sifting the substrate in its mouth or by using a more active predatory method where it watches the substrate for movement and grabs the prey item. It is normally found in shallow waters from but has been recorded as deep as . The males are

territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, belonging or connected to a particular country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually a geographic area which has not been granted the powers of self-government, ...

and show their breeding colour all year, the territory is centred on a shelter excavated by the male. The females live in small schools. If a female is enticed to lay eggs by the male's courtship display she will lay eggs and take them into her mouth. The males of this species has spots resembling eggs on their

anal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported o ...

s and the female is attracted to these, opening her egg filled mouth to attempt to swallow these "eggs", when she does the male releases his

milt Milt is the seminal fluid of fish, mollusks, and certain other water-dwelling animals. They reproduce by spraying this fluid which contains the sperm, onto roe (fish eggs). It can also refer to the sperm sacs or testes that contain the semen. ...

to inseminate the eggs in her mouth. The eggs will be mouthbrooded for four weeks before she releases the free swimming fry.

Threats

The main threat to this

critically endangered An IUCN Red List critically endangered (CR or sometimes CE) species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of t ...

cichlid is capture for the

aquarium An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...

trade.

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

honours Ulrich Baensch, the inventor of the dried flake fish food, Tetramin, and who founded Tetra GmbH.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q168625

Nkhomo-benga peacock The nkhomo-benga peacock (''Aulonocara baenschi''), also known as the new yellow regal peacock, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species is threatened by capture for the aquarium trade. Distribution The ...

Endemic fauna of Malawi Fish of Malawi Taxa named by Manfred K. Meyer Taxa named by Rüdiger Riehl

Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Fish of Lake Malawi

Distribution

Habitat and ecology

Threats

Etymology

See also

References