Description

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Haplochromis

Species: Haplochromis bicolor Boulenger, 1906

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Occurs in the littoral and sublittoral regions, especially where the bottom is hard, only rarely over mud (Ref. 5662). Feeds mainly on snails and insect larvae (Ref. 558) as well as on detritus and phytoplankton (Ref. 28676). In combination, the introduction of top-predator Lates niloticus (and probably other species of Lates), together with intensified fishing efforts, appear to be responsible for the virtual disappearance of this species over the last 20 years (Ref. 26184).

Habitat

demersal