Home · Cichlidae · Yellow-black-line hap
Yellow-black-line hap (Mylochromis melanonotus) — Cichlidae

Yellow-black-line hap

Mylochromis melanonotus
Family: Cichlidae
LC · Least Concern

The Yellow-black-line hap (Mylochromis melanonotus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 26 cm.

Length
26 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
15.0–18.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The yellow-black-line hap is a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, widely distributed in the lake. The species grows to about 26 cm and has a yellow-and-black longitudinal line pattern, from which it takes its name. It lives on sandy and mixed sand-rock bottoms between about 15 and 18 metres depth and feeds on small fish, snails and small mussels. Like most Lake Malawi cichlids it is a maternal mouthbrooder. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellow-black-line hap?

The Yellow-black-line hap has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Yellow-black-line hap live?

The Yellow-black-line hap lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Yellow-black-line hap get?

The Yellow-black-line hap grows to a maximum of about 26 cm.

Is the Yellow-black-line hap dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow-black-line hap is harmless to humans.

Is the Yellow-black-line hap edible?

The Yellow-black-line hap is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geelzwart-streepcichlide verified
English name
Yellow-black-line hap verified
Scientific name
Mylochromis melanonotus
Family
Cichlidae
Other names
Haplochromis yellow black line; Happy verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
18.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Mylochromis

More from the family Cichlidae

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