Maylandia lanisticola (Burgess, 1976)

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Max. size:  6.06 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7.5 - 8; dH range: 9 - 19
Distribution:  Africa: Lake Malawi in Malawi (Ref. 5684, 119491)
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 17-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8
Biology:  This species is a facultative cleaner; it has been observed to feed on periphyton and to clean parasites from Lethrinops cf. lituris; additionally, it has been observed to clean parasites from Cyrtocara cf. fenestrata and Cyrtocara cf. picta (Ref. 36956). The host fish approaches the cleaner and positions itself with its dorsal fin oriented toward the cleaner, and permits the cleaner to remove ectoparasites from its fins and skin (Ref. 36956).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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