Red List of South African Species

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Notes

There are several colour forms over the species' wide range, possibly representing distinct species.

habitat_narrative

Freshwater (=Inland waters)

This species occurs in a wide variety of habitats from flowing waters to lakes and isolated sinkholes, usually favouring vegetated areas where the current is not too strong (Skelton 2001). Tweddle et al. (2004) found it to be the most widespread species throughout the Upper Zambezi and Kafue systems. It preys on insects, shrimps and small fish. It breeds from early spring to late summer (Skelton 2001).

It has never been recorded in Lake Malawi itself but it lives in the swampy environments around the lakeshore. It prefers vegetated zones, found mainly in quiet pools. It has a tendency to migrate upstream during the rains. In Malawi this species reaches 8 cm in length.

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