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Bigeye Malawi tigerfish (Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus) — Cichlidae

Bigeye Malawi tigerfish

Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus
Family: Cichlidae

The Bigeye Malawi tigerfish (Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
29.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
30.0–109.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The bigeye Malawi tigerfish is a slender predatory cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species grows to about 30 cm and has an elongate, silvery, streamlined body with conspicuously large eyes and a large mouth with sharp teeth. As an open-water predator it hunts smaller fish, also in deeper and dim water. It is a mouthbrooder. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish?

The Bigeye Malawi tigerfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish live?

The Bigeye Malawi tigerfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish get?

The Bigeye Malawi tigerfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish edible?

Yes, the Bigeye Malawi tigerfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootoog-Malawi-tijgervis sourced
English name
Bigeye Malawi tigerfish sourced
Scientific name
Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus
Family
Cichlidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
29.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
30.0 verified
Max depth (m)
109.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Rhamphochromis

More from the family Cichlidae

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